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COLLECTION 
 
 Of Scarce and Valuable 
 
 TREATISES 
 
 UPON 
 
 Metals, Mines, and Minerals 
 CON TAIN I NG, 
 
 I. Curious Obfervations on 
 Mines and the feveral Mi- 
 nerals produced ; with plain 
 Directions and Rules for 
 finding them in all Coun- 
 tries. 
 
 II. The Art of Melting, Re- 
 fining and Allaying all Sorts 
 of Metals, whereby any 
 Perfon at a (ball Charge 
 may try the Value of fuch 
 Oars as fhall be found, ei- 
 ther by Rule or Accident. 
 With InftruCtions for Sort- 
 ing of Oar. 
 
 III. Real Experiments, to try 
 whether any I-iece offer’d for 
 Gold be true or counterfeit, 
 what Colour any Berry, 
 Lea r , Flower, Stalk, Root, 
 Fruit, Seed, Bark or Wood 
 will gi ve. With an infalli- 
 ble Method of preparing 
 Colours, which fhall neither 
 
 ftain nor fade like Ordinary 
 Colours. 
 
 IV. The Common Way of Re- 
 fining Silver by Quickfilver. 
 W ith fome new Rules added 
 for the better Performance. 
 
 V. An Invaluable Difcovery 
 of all Sorts of Mines from 
 Gold to Coal. Alio, The 
 Ccmpleat Miner, with the 
 Liberties, Laws and Cuftoms 
 of the Lead Mines within 
 the Wapentake of Wi>kj - 
 •worth in Derby/hire , in Fifty 
 Nine Articles, being all that 
 were ever made. 
 
 VI. The Art of Dyalling, or 
 Levelling Grooves, greatly 
 defired by all Miners : Be- 
 ing a Subjedl never wrote 
 on before, with an Expla- 
 nation of the Miners Terms 
 of Art, and feveral other 
 curious Particulars. 
 
 Being, A Tranflation from the Learned 
 A LB ARC. ALONSO BARBA, Diredor of the 
 Mines af Pc t'ft, in th zSpaniftb Weft Indies, and the 
 .Obfervations of feveral Ingenuous Perfons of our 
 own Country, founded onmany Years Experience, 
 
 The Second Edition. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 Printed for J. Hod g e s,at th zLooking-Glafs 
 on London- Bridge. 1740. Price bd 3 s. 
 
Bonks printed for James Hodges, at the 
 Looking-Glafs, on London Bridge. 
 
 T HE Laboratory, or School of Arts: In which are 
 faithfully exhibited and fully explained. I. A Vari- 
 ety of curious and valuable Experiments, in Refining, 
 Calcining, Melting, AiTaying, Calling, Allaying, and Tough- 
 ening Gold, with feveral other Curiofities relating to Gold 
 and Silver. II. Choice Secrets for Jewellers in the Manage- 
 ment of Gold, in Enamelling, and the Preparation of Enamel 
 Colours, with the Art of copying precious Stones ; of pre- 
 paring Colours for Doublets i of Colouring Foyles for Jew- 
 els, together with other rare Seer As. III. Several uncom- 
 mon Experiments for Calling in Silver, Copper, Brafs, Tin, 
 Steel, and other Metals ; likewife in Wax, Piaifter ofParis, 
 Wood, Horn, &c. With the Management of the refpedtive 
 Moulds. IV. The Art of making Glafs : Exhibiting withal 
 the Art of Painting and making ImprefTions upon Glafs, and 
 of laying thereon Gold or Silver ; together with the Me- 
 thod of preparing the Colours for Potters Work, or Delft- 
 ware. V. A Colledtion of very valuable Secrets for the Ufe 
 of Cutlers, Pewterers, Brafiers, Joiners, Turners, Japanners, 
 Bookbinders, Diftillers, Lapidaries, Limners, &c. VI. A 
 Diflertation on the Nature and Growth of Salt-Petre ; Alio 
 feveral choice and uncommon Experiments. To which 
 is added, Ah Appendix : Teaching, I. The Art and Ma- 
 nagement of Dying Silks, Worfted, Cottons, See. in various 
 Colours. II. The Art of preparing Rockets, Fire Globes, 
 Stars, Sparks, &c. for Recreative Fire Works. Tranflated 
 from the High Dutch. The Second Edition ilJuflrated with 
 Copper Plates. N. B. Thofe Perfons who have bought the 
 firft Edition, may have the Appendix alone. 
 
 II. The Art ofPainting in Miniature : Teaching the fpee- 
 dy and perfedt Acquifition of that Art without a Matter. By 
 Buies fo eafy, and in a Method lo natural, as to render this 
 charming AccompPfhment univerfally attainab'e. Contain- 
 ing, I. T he Difference between Painting in Miniature, and 
 other Kinds ofPainting. II. The Management of Colours in 
 Draperies, Linnen, Lace, Furrs, &c. III. 'The Method of 
 mixing Colours for Carnations in painting of Men, Women, 
 or Children. IV. The proper Colours for painting of Archi- 
 tecture, or any Building of Stone or Wood, for Landskips, 
 TerrafTes, Water, Ruins, Pocks, <&c. V. The Art of paint- 
 ing all Sorts ofPTowers, With the proper Colours required to 
 reprelent Nature to the higheft Perfedtion. VI. The various 
 Methods of Painting. T ranflated from the Original French, 
 T he Fourth Edition. To which are added, I. Certain Se- 
 crets of the greateft Ital.an Painters for making the fineft Co- 
 lours, Burnifhed Gold, Shell Gold, &c. II. Some general 
 inftrudHve Leffons for the Art of Drawing. And III, The 
 Ufefulnefe and Benefit of Prints. 
 
HEREAS 
 
 have joined together to move 
 me to take in Hand this 
 \ Tajk , I will declare fome few 
 of thofe that may give the heft 
 Satisfaction to the Reader , in 
 
 this Manner following. 
 
 Firft , when I confidered the great Num- 
 ber of T y'eafure and Riches which lieth bid- 
 den in the Belly of the Earth , and doth no 
 Good at all *, and alfo the great Benefit which 
 A 2 might 
 
To the READER. 
 
 might accrue to diver fe Kingdoms and Coun- 
 tries . , by fetting People to Work , not only 
 in the difcovering them , but alfo in the 
 fever al Operations about the Diggings Melt- 
 ings and Refining of them *, alfo when I 
 confidered that the moft Part of the Mines 
 hitherto difeovered have come by mere Acci- 
 dents 1 thought that I could not be better 
 employ eds than to give Rules and Dire Elions 
 for the fame. For though it is not impof- 
 fibks that if two Men be fent to feek a 
 Thing that is lofts and one of them be hood- 
 winPds and the other have the ufe and Be- 
 nefit of his EyeSs yet the Perfon hooodwink y d 
 may cafually ftumble upon it ; never thelefs 
 it is twenty to one that the other ftoould have 
 found it before him. So in this Cafe , I 
 dare hazard a Wager of twenty to ones that 
 there will be more good Mines difeovered 
 within feven Tears after the divulging of 
 thefe Rules and Directions, than hath been 
 in twenty -feven Tears before. Alfo when I 
 confidered that many Minerals found out by 
 Accident hath come to no Goods by reafon of 
 the Diftance of Place from RefinerSs and 
 Men of Judgment and Experience •, for that 
 the Finders thereof were loath to come fo 
 far s and fpend fo much Money upon an Un- 
 certainty's as the Trial thereof would requires 
 I thought I could not do a better Deeds than 
 to Jhew the Manner of fuch Trials , in fuch 
 
 plain 
 
To the READER. 
 
 plain Manner , that every Man may try the 
 fame in his Ship, or Chimney Corner, with 
 little Coft and Labour . 
 
 And the Truth of this I can zvitnefs by Ex- 
 perience ; for zvhen I was a Youth, and had 
 no Skill in thefe Affairs, I happened upon a 
 Mineral fair to fee to, and could find no 
 Man nearer than an hundred Miles which 
 could inform me of the true Value thereof ; 
 - whereupon, rather than to be at fuch Char- 
 ges as theTrial required, I fuffered the fame 
 to be ueglebled. 
 
 And though that the Rules and Directions 
 given in this Book be exquifite, and give 
 ftrong Signs of Metals and Minerals , yet 
 I would be loath that any Man Jhould be 
 thereby animated to take in hand great 
 Voyages , and confume his Eft ate in the 
 Purfuit of his Defign , deeming them to be 
 impoffible ever to fail, but rather to make this 
 a Part of his Bufinefs, when he fhall come 
 to fuch Places as yield ftrong Probabili- 
 ties. 
 
 And fo far I am from envying the former 
 Ways in finding them by accident, that 1 
 have partly taken this Pains, but thofe 
 which fhall hereafter be found by accident 
 may not be neglected, as 1 conjecture, that 
 A 3 many 
 
To the READER. 
 
 many have been by my own formerly men- 
 tioned. 
 
 For 1 could wifi that many Men had the 
 like Fortune that one had , who in the climb- 
 ing up of the great Mountain Potofi, in the 
 Kingdom of Peru in the Weft-Indies, took 
 hold of a young Free to ft ay himfelf withal , 
 and thereby plucked it up by the Roots , 
 whereunto there did adhere good Silver Oar ; 
 which being tried , and found rich , hath ever 
 fince been wrought upon , and innumerable 
 Freafure and Riches have therehence been 
 digged , to the Value of many hundred Mil- 
 lions of Pounds Sterling. 
 
 Thou haft . now in thy Hands a Jewel fo 
 much efteemed in Spain and the Indies, 
 that there they fell even all they have 
 {and the Kingdom of Heaven to boot ) to 
 pur chafe it ; for having this , they think 
 that therewith they Jhall have all Things (in 
 this World I mean) given unto them : And 
 in that Country , I muft tell you y it will go 
 a great Way toward the Pur chafe of the o- 
 ther. Indeed there are fome in all Nations 
 that will fell that they have not y nor ever 
 Jhall have ; but this was a Jewel fo rare , 
 that few had it to fell , for it was concealed 
 like the great Arcanum, the Philofopher’s 
 Stone , and only traditionally delivered to the 
 
 Adepti ; 
 
To the READER. 
 
 Adepti ; but it falling into the Hands of 
 this true Nobleman of England, he not en- 
 vying the reft of Mankind fo great a Benefit , 
 nor being willing fo great a T reafure fhould 
 be wrapt up in a Napkin , he honoured 
 and enriched our Language with it , being 
 contented that all our Lord the King’s People- 
 fhould be Philofophers . 
 
 Tour hearty WelUwi[her y 
 
 G. P. 
 
 ***••**•••**•*•*••*****••*** v 
 
 Advertifement concerning 
 the prefent Edition. 
 
 H Avingfor fome Tears obferved a great 
 Demand for Books of this Kind ( and 
 for thefe Treatifes in particular) which , by 
 the Judicious , are efteemed as good , or better 
 than any on the Subject , ( and very rare) and 
 finding nothing new publijhed , was induced 
 A 4 to 
 
To the READER. 
 
 to the prefent Undertaking •, I am informed 
 by a Gentleman of undoubted Credit , that 
 the Sale of BarbaV Book is prohibited in 
 Spain, under the Penalty of the Inquifition , 
 and is fo fcarce in England, that I am in- 
 formed there is but one Copy of the Spanifh 
 Edition , which is in Sir Hans Sloan 9 s 
 Library ; Plattes’j Difcovery is very much 
 efteemed, as being founded upon Experience : 
 Alfo Houghton is valuable for his Laws 
 relating to Mines , and his Explanation of 
 the Miners Terms ^ &c. 
 
 J. Hodges. 
 
 THE 
 
•* 
 
 * 
 
 
 * 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 * * * * * 
 * » * * * 
 
 * 
 
 T H E 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. I. F the Companions of Me- 
 tals ; and firjl of the Ear th, 
 and the fever al Colours thereof. Page i 
 
 Chap. II. Of the divers Smells of the Earthy 
 and the Reafons thereof . 3 
 
 Chap. Ill, How to know the Condition of 
 the Earth hy Tafte. 8 
 
 Chap. IV. Of the Names andJJfes of feme 
 Sorts of Earth . 10 
 
 Chap. 
 
 V. Of Juices \ and firft 1 
 
 of Allum. 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 Chap. 
 
 VI. Of Copperas . 
 
 16 
 
 Chap. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Of Salt. 
 
 19 
 
 Chap. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Of Sal Ammoniac , 
 
 and other 
 
 ' Salts. 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 
 Chap. 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. IX. Of Juices , which the Spaniards 
 call Be tunes, 25 
 
 Chap. X. Of Sulphur and Antimony, 28 
 
 Chap. XI. Qf Marcajita , Orpiment y and 
 Sandaraca, 32 
 
 Chap. XII. Of the Generation of Stones. 
 
 35 
 
 Chap. XIII. Of the Differences of Stones 
 one from another. 38 
 
 Chap. XIV. Of precious Stones. 41 
 
 Chap. XV. Whether there he precious 
 Stones in the Kingdom of Peru. 44 
 
 Chap, XVI. Of other Sorts of Stones . 47 
 
 Chap. XVII. Of fome Accidents happening 
 to Stpnes, and the Caufe of them. 5 ° 
 
 Chap. XVIII. Of the Generation of Me- 
 tals. 55 
 
 Chap. XIX. The Opinion that Quickfilver 
 and Sulphur are the Matter whereof Me- 
 tals are made , is defended. 60 
 
 Chap. XX. Of the efficient and formal 
 Caufes of Metals . 64 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. XXI. Divers Accidents of Metals. 
 
 68 
 
 Chap. XXII. Of the Number of Metals , 
 and the Places wherein they are guard- 
 ed. 71 
 
 Chap. XXIII. The Manner how to find 
 out the Veins of Metals. 74. 
 
 Chap. XXIV, Befides thofe Veins of Me - 
 tal, which do difcover themfelves , or are 
 found by Chance as has been faid before , 
 there be others procured by the Art and 
 Indujlry of Man. 78 
 
 Chap. XXV. Of the fever al Sorts of Veins , 
 and how to find them out. 8 1 
 
 Chap. XXVI. Of Metals in particular , 
 and JirJl of Gold . 8 5 
 
 Chap. XXVII. Of Silver , and the Mines 
 thereof . 90 
 
 Chap. XXVIII. Continuing the Difcourfe 
 of the laft Chapter , touching the Mines 
 of Silver . 95 
 
 Chap. XXIX. 0 / Copper , and the Mines 
 thereof. 98 
 
 Chap. XXX. Of Iron. 102 
 
 Chap. 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. XXXI. Of Lead . 105 
 
 Chap. XXXII. Of Tin . 107 
 
 Chap. XXXIII. Of Quickfiiver. no 
 
 Chap. XXXIV. Of artificial Metals and 
 Met allies. 1 1 3 
 
 Chap. XXXV. Of the Colours of all Mi- 
 nerals generally. x 1 8 
 
 Chap. XXXVI. Of the Faculties or Vir- 
 tues of Minerals. 120 
 
 Chap. XXXVII. That no Man ought to he 
 employed to refine Metals , hut he that hath 
 been examined and licenfed by Authority . 
 
 123 
 
 Chap. XXXVIII. What Quantities , and 
 what kind of Knowledge a Refiner ought 
 to have . 125 
 
 Chap. XXXIX. Of the Knowledge of Me- 
 tals , and the Differences there are of 
 them. 128 
 
 Chap. XL. Of the forting of Oar , and the 
 proper manner of refining each of them . x 3 1 
 
 Chap. XLI. How to know the ill Qualities 
 that inf eft the Oar , and how to purge 
 them away . *33 
 
 Chap. 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. XLII. Of the grinding of the Oars 
 of MetaL 1 3 8 
 
 Chap. XLIII. Touching the burning of 
 Oar . I 40 
 
 Chap. XLIV. Touching the Damage that 
 refults from the burning of Oar . 143 
 
 Chap. XLV. Experiments which prove the 
 Damage by the burning of Oar , if they 
 be not known and remedied . 144 
 
 Chap. XLVI. Whether the Oar ought to 
 be burnt in the Stone or in the Meal. 148 
 
 Chap. XL VII. Of Materials to be mixed 
 with Oar , when they burn it . 1 50 
 
 Chap. XLVIII. What the Refiner muft do 
 before he incorporates the Caxon. 152 
 
 Chap. XLIX, Continuing the Rules of the 
 laft Chapter , touching Oar that has need 
 
 of burning. 156 
 
 Chap. L. Of the Nature of Quickfilver. 160 
 
 ♦ 
 
 Chap. LI. Touching the Caufes and Diffe- 
 rences of that which is called Lis. 162 
 
 Chap. LIT Whether it be fitting at firft to 
 put in all the ^ 'uickfilver , and the other 
 Materials at once or no? 165 
 
 Chap. 
 
The CONTENTS, 
 
 Chap. LIII. Of the repeated pajfing the 
 Quickfilver through the Oar and the Ef- 
 fects thereof . 168 
 
 Chap. LIV. Of divers Accident s 9 which 
 happen in the Way of refining by Quick- 
 Jilver , and their Remedies. 170 
 
 Chap. LV. In Profecution of the Chapter 
 foregoing . 173 
 
 Chap. LVI. How to know whether or no 
 the Caxon be ready for wafhing . 177 
 
 Chap. LVII. That the wafhing of the Ca - 
 xons caufeth the Lofs and Wajle of Quick- 
 filver . 1 79 
 
 Chap. LVIII. The true Caufes of the Lofs 
 of Quickfilver> and their Remedies. 182 
 
 Chap. LIX. To make the Pine Apples , and 
 to clear them of the Quick/ilver. 185 
 
 Chap. LX. Other fafer Ways of clearing 
 the Pine Apples from Quickjilver. 1 89 
 
 Chap. LX I. Wherein is demonftrated the 
 natural Caufe of the Generation and Pro- 
 duction of Mountains and Metals ; where- 
 by the Seekers may obtain a good compe- 
 tent Meafure of Knowledge to guide them 
 
 where 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 where to feek for the other external 
 Signs . 1 94 
 
 Chap. LXII. Wherein is Jhewed the Signs 
 of Mines and Minerals , with the Man- 
 ner how to work to find the fame . 199 
 
 Chap. LXIII. Now that we are come to 
 Melting and Refining of Metals , 1 will 
 begin firft with the Oar of Lea 4 , becaufe 
 that is one of the moft common Metals 
 found in thefe Northern Countries. 103 
 
 Chap. LXIV. Wherein is fhewed the O- 
 perations of Lin. 207 
 
 Chap. LXV. Wherein is Jhewed the Ope- 
 rations of Iron. zio 
 
 Chap. LX VI. Wherein is fhewed the Ope- 
 rations of Copper . 21 1 
 
 Chap. LXVII. Wherein is Jhewed the O- 
 perations of Silver. 214 
 
 Chap. LXVIII. Wherein is Jhewed the O- 
 perations of Gold , and real Experiments 
 whereby any Man may try prefently whe- 
 ther any Piece of Gold be true or coun- 
 terfeit , without defacing or altering the 
 Form thereof. 217 
 
 Chap. 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. LXIX. Wherein is /hewed how true 
 and p erf chi Gold may be made by Art, 
 with Lofs to the Workman . 223 
 
 * . • v T t 
 
 Chap, LXX. Wherein is /hewed the Ope - 
 rations for fome of the inferior Metals. 
 
 226 
 
 Chap. LXX I. Wherein is /hewed the Ways 
 to find out Pit- Gcals •, alfo the natural 
 Caufe of the Generation of them , by a 
 plain Demon/lration . 229 
 
 Chap. LXXII. Wherein is /hewed aperfeft 
 Way to try what C olour any Berry , Leaf 
 Flower , Stalky Root , Fruity Seed , Bark , 
 Wood will give*, alfo a per f eft Way to 
 make Colours fixed , which will not abide 
 the ordinary Way. 234 
 
 Rara Avis in Terris : Or, Compleat 
 Miner. 243 
 
 Laws and Cuftoms of the Lead-Mines, at 
 Wirkfworth, in the County 0/ Durham. 
 
 247 
 
 Examples of Dialling , 286 
 
 Explanation of the Miners Ferms of Art. 
 
 3*3 
 
 A 
 
A 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O F 
 
 Metals, Mines, &c. 
 
 chap. i. 
 
 Of the Companions of Metals ; and firjl 
 
 of the Earth, and the fever al Colours 
 thereof. 
 
 L L the inanimate Things 
 within the Bowels of the 
 Earth are reducible into 
 one of thefe four Kinds of 
 Mixture, Metals, 
 
 Stones, Earth , or 
 
 Juices. 
 
 Nature produces thefe mingled one 
 with the other ; and beca^fe the Art of 
 
 ® fepa- 
 
(O 
 
 feparating of Metals cannot be put in 
 Practice without underftanding the Na- 
 ture of the other three, (as will hereafter 
 .appear) therefore I fhall treat of Thefe 
 .a little. 
 
 By the word Earth I do not mean that 
 pure and fimple Element, whereof the 
 jPhilofophers fay all mixed fublunary Bo- 
 dies are compofed. 
 
 Neither do I mean that which is fo 
 grofs as it remains mixed with Metal, 
 Vitriol, or other Juices. 
 
 But I do mean fuch an earthySubftance 
 as neither melts in the Fire, nor dilfolves 
 in the Water, as Metals and Juices do, 
 nor is fo compared or hard as are Stones. 
 
 Some report Ariftotlt to have been of 
 Opinion, that the pure elementary Earth 
 was void of Colour. Strabo affirms it to 
 be white, becaufe Allies are of that Co- 
 lour; but the Miner may reft fecure, 
 that, dig he never fo deep, he ffiall not 
 meet with any fuch pure Element of 
 Earth to make new Experiments by, be- 
 caufe it is not in the World, by Reafon 
 of the perpetual Mixture of the Elements 
 one with the other. 
 
 The Colour of the pure ft Earth that 
 hath been found, Cardona would have to 
 be a very dark Grey : In the other Sorts 
 of Earth we fee how rich Nature hath 
 adorned the World with Variety of Co- 
 lours, 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 lours, caufed by Difference of Exhalation , 1 
 as Theophrajlus fays, or by Difference of 
 Heat, as Ariflotle fays, and both truly : 
 For if under Earth, that hath not it’s na- 
 tural and proper Colour, there be found 
 Metals, it is certain, that the Exhalations 
 from thefe Metals hath difcoloured the 
 Ground j and if there be no Metal found 
 there, then the Difcolouring proceeds from 
 the confuming Power of the Sun’s Heat.’ 
 Befides, the Difcolouring that comes by 
 Reafon of Exhalation carries a differing 
 and Shining along with it, and the Difco- 
 louring from the Sun’s over-conco£tion on- 
 ly is oblcure, or iron-colour’d, or black. 
 
 From what is already faid, confiderable 
 Conje&ures may be made for the finding 
 out of Mines in the Bowels of the Earth, 
 by the Colour of the Ground and Cliffs, or 
 by the Tilth ploughed up upon the Moun- 
 tains ; as daily Experience hath fhewn all 
 oyer the Dominions of Spain . 
 
 CHAP. II, 
 
 Of the divers Smells of the Earthy and the 
 Reafon thereof . 
 
 T HE Works of Nature in produ- 
 cing Variety of Smells of Earth, is 
 alio worthy of Admiration, 
 
 B z 
 
 Ordi- 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 Ordinarily the Earth fmells well upon 
 <the Fall of the firft Rains after the Heat of 
 Summer is paid : The dry Time having 
 baked together the moderate Humidity 
 that was in the Earth, (which is the Caufe 
 from whence all good Smells proceed) and 
 the firft Rains diffolving that again (which 
 being exhaled by moderate Heat) makes 
 the good Sc$nt which we perceive. Some 
 Sorts of earthen VdTels alfo have this Pri- 
 vilege, as that of Eftremos in Portugal , 
 and of Nata in Panama , which are highly 
 efteemed in Europe for that Quality. In 
 the famous City of Malacca , in the Eaff- 
 Indies , they fay there is a Sort of earthen 
 Vefiel that fmells admirably, in fo great 
 Abundance, that it is .little efteemed, and 
 they make all their moft fervile Sort of 
 Ware of it : And in fome Mines good 
 Spelling Earth hath been met withal, al- 
 though moft commonly that Kind of Earth 
 Is of an ill Scent. Agricola relates, that 
 when Henry Prince of Saxony was in Mari - 
 emburgy there came fofweetaSmell out of 
 the Mine, which they called St. Sebajlian^ 
 tfi^t the Prince admired thereat, and faid,, 
 that he thought he was in Calivety that fa- 
 mous Country of the Indies , which for it’s 
 rare Smells and other Excellencies hath 
 been thought by judicious Men to be the 
 Paradife wherein Adam of old, and tfie 
 Fathers now er.iov God upon Earth. 
 
The Metal that comes out of the Mints 
 which they call Palos is of a good Smell, if 
 they light not upon fome baftard Mineral 
 that accompanies, and hasinfedted it : And 
 this good Smell is a great Sign of the 
 Richnefs of the Stones of that Mine, and 
 of the Earth which they get there called 
 Lampos . This Experiment is ordinary in 
 Lead or 7'in Mines y and it is ufual for 
 the Miners to judge of their Oar by the 
 Smell, as well as by the Tafte. Other 
 Sorts of Metal for the moft part have an 
 ill Smell, either becaufe of their own na- 
 tural Diftemper, or by reafon of their be- 
 ing generally mixed with Brimftone, Cop^ 
 peras, or other malignant Juices. 
 
 Some do think, that, over and above 
 what hath been faid, there is fome Matter 
 in the Bowels of the Earth fo drinking and 
 abominable, that it doth correfpond with 
 the Ordure of Animals-: The Truth is, 
 that there be Places in the Earth that in- 
 ftantly kill, with a peftilential Smell. And 
 fetting afide the Stories of this Kind, both 
 ancient and modern in remote Countries, 
 I lhall relate two Examples, where I my- 
 felf was prefent, which was at the Difco- 
 very of the rich Country of San Chriftoval 
 de los Lipes *, at that Time in a beautiful 
 high Hill, that together with others en- 
 compafles the Dwelling of the Miners, 
 two Galleguares found a Mine, which at 
 B 3 - fir£t 
 
(« ) 
 
 firft they called after their own Names, 
 but ever fince, to this prefent, it is called, 
 from it’s Effects, Ube fiinking Mine. At 
 firft they got out of it very rich Oar 
 (Tacana) between white Chalk: And as 
 they began to fink deeper, they were for- 
 ced to give over, by reafon of a mofl a- 
 bominable ill Smell they met withal, 
 which killed feveral of the Miners, Indi- 
 ans * and fo it lay unwrought for four or 
 five Years : After which Time another 
 Miner ( I being then in the Country ) un- 
 dertook to proceed in the working of it ; 
 thinking that having lain ftill fo long af- 
 ter it’s firfl Opening, the ill Quality would 
 have been evaporated ; but that Experi- 
 ment coft the Lives of two Indians more, 
 whereupon they forbore the Work, and 
 have done founto this Day. The which 
 I have not fo much wondered at, as to fee 
 with my Eyes the Ground opened in fe- 
 veral other Parts of that Mountain, at a 
 great Diftance from the forementioned 
 Mine, and in digging fcarce a Yard deep, 
 fuch a Stink came out of the Ground as 
 forced the Labourers to give over : And 
 as I paHed by thofe Pits a few Days after, 
 1 faw divers Birds and Serpents dead in 
 them, having been intoxicated by that 
 poifonous Smell: On the other Side of this 
 forbidden Hill (until Divine Providence 
 make way for the Mining of the fame) 
 
 are 
 
are built Dwelling-houfes, and a Mill to' 
 grind Metals withal, adjoining unto a 
 marfliy Ground *, which in every Place 
 where they digg’d to lay the fhallow Foun- 
 dations of thofe Buildings, the fame Smell 
 breaks out, as hath been already defcrib- 
 ed *, and it comes out of the Ground boil- 
 ing like unto a Cellar full of Wine on the 
 MuH •, exceeding troublefome and noi- 
 fome unto us, though we were Handing 
 by in the open Air. 
 
 In the famous Country of Mines, Veren - 
 guela de Pacages , in which the Indiana pro- 
 cured a Patent to dig, before that of Po - 
 tofi was in Ufe, becaufe it’s Veins were e- 
 fleemed much richer than Potofi , and up- 
 on Trial were found to be fo* and the 
 Oar gotten there inferior to none in the 
 Indies. In the Hill of that Country call- 
 ed Sanfta Juanna , a Miner followed a ve- 
 ry rich and plentiful Vein of Silver, and 
 intending to difcover more of the like, he 
 determined to break a Hole into the old 
 Vault *, and fet two Indians upon the 
 Work, who after a few Blows difcovered 
 a Vacuity, out of which came fo pefti- 
 lential a Stink, that killed the two Inii- 
 ans prefently, and almoH Hided others that 
 were at a DiHance from them in the Mine, 
 B 4 who 
 
 * An ufual Practice among the Miners in 
 that Country. 
 
who neverthelefs ran out, and told their 
 Matter what had happened. He made 
 hafte to the Mine, hoping to fave the In - 
 dans i butatfirft Entrance into the Ground, 
 upon the Stairs by which they went down 
 into the Mine, he fell down dead, and his 
 Body remained there, no Body daring to 
 go down and take it away to bury it. 
 
 In another Mine in the fame Mountain, 
 in the Bottom of it, I faw a thick Exhala- 
 tion or poifonous Vapour gufh forth, mak- 
 ing a terrible Noile, and was of Quality 
 bad enough to kill one that would ftay 
 long in that Mine, putting out the 
 Candles when we held them to it, which is 
 a certain Sign of the Malignity of the 
 Air, as hath been found by the conftant 
 Experience of all Miners, and therefore 
 deferves to be the more taken notice of. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 How to know the Condition of the Earth ty 
 the Tafte. 
 
 T H E Artift in the Knowledge of 
 Metals, before he gives his Judge- 
 ment, leaves no Experiment untried, that 
 may be confiderabk for his Information. 
 And therefore ufeth his Tatte, which dif- 
 covers the Purenefs of Metals, as well as 
 Smelling doth. Pure 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 Pare Earth hath no manner of Tafte* 
 and that Earth that is mixed with Mine- 
 rals commonly hath a bad Tafte ; becaufe 
 fcarce any Mineral but is aduft, and they 
 be all dry * whereas the very firli: Princi- 
 ple of Sweetnefs or good Tafte is Humi- 
 dity. 
 
 Now fince the Earth which hath fuch 
 a Mixture in it, is greatly difpofed alfo 
 to contain Metals of like Condition, the 
 curious Miner ought to make Trial by 
 Tailing •, holding it for certain Truth* 
 that Metals of Gold and Silver, and o- 
 thers, are found as often in the Form of 
 Earth (which in the Spanijh Miner’s Lan- 
 guage is called Lampos) as in Stones or Oar. 
 
 The Tafte of the Earth is gotten well 
 by infufmg it in curious Water, efpecial- 
 ly if you fet it upon the Fire, and let it 
 boil once or twice, and then cool again, 
 whereby may be difcerned the Mixture of 
 Juice which it contains : And one that 
 would improve this Experiment, may fe- 
 parate the Water from the Infufton, fub- 
 flantially and vifibly ; as (hall be fhewn 
 in it’s Place, when we come to treat of 
 the Preparation of Metals, to make them 
 beneficial 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Of the Names and Ufes of fome Sorts of 
 Earth . 
 
 I N the Books of Phyfic fome Kind 
 of Earth are very famous for the Ef- 
 fects which they have upon Man’s Body ; 
 and it is not unnecefiary that the Miner 
 hath the Knowledge to diftinguifh them 
 when they come in his way. 
 
 i. Lemnian Earth (fo called from the 
 Ifland Lemnos , where it is found) is very 
 red, and much like a red Oaker or red 
 Lead, but it hath this notable Difference, 
 that it will not colour one’s Fingers in 
 touching it, as do the others. It is e- 
 fteemed as rich as Gold, and fold fo 
 Weight for Weight : One Caufe of the 
 Dearnefs of it is the Scarcity of it in the 
 World •, and another is, becaufe they dig 
 it only on one Day in the Year, being 
 fuperftitioufly perfuaded, that the Earth 
 of this Kind only hath Virtue in it that is 
 dug upon the fs of Auguft . It is a rare 
 Antidote againft any Kind of Poifon or 
 Peflilence. 
 
 2. That Earth which is commonly cal- 
 led Bole Armeniac , (from the vulgar O- 
 pinion, that it is found only in Armenia ) is 
 
 very 
 
( *■ ) 
 
 very like th tLemnian Earth aforefaid, on- 
 ly it is not red, but palifh, white, or fal- 
 low-coloured. There is excellent good 
 of it, and in great Plenty in the TFeJl-In- 
 dian Mines, and particularly in the rich 
 Mountain of Potofi , and in thofe of Oru - 
 ro. Divers are of Opinion, that this com- 
 mon Bole is that which Diofcorides calls 
 la Rubrica Synopica : And that the Ori- 
 ental Bole Armeniac is the true Lemnian 
 Earth. 
 
 3. There be two Sorts of Eritrian 
 Earth ; one pure white, and the other of 
 an Afh-colour * and this laft is the better, 
 and is known by rubbing it upon poliflv- 
 ed Copper, where it will leave a Tinc- 
 ture of Violet Colour. It hath Virtue to 
 flanch Blood, and to cool and heal green 
 Wounds. 
 
 4. The Earth of Sarnia is light white 
 Earth, and will flick to one’s Tongue if 
 you touch it with it. 
 
 It is brittle, and yet will melt. 
 
 There is another Sort of it called After ^ 
 that is clofe and hard as a Stone. 
 
 Both of them have the Eritrian Virtue in 
 them ; viz. to be excellent Antidotes a- 
 gainfl Poifon, or the biting of Serpents. 
 
 5. The Earth called Chia is white, in- 
 clining to Afh-colour, much like that of 
 Sarnia , and hath the fame Virtue *, and o~ 
 ver and above that, it takes Wrinkles out 
 
 of 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 oFthe Face, and gives a good Complexion, 
 
 6. Selimi/ian Earth hath the fame Qua- 
 lity as the laft aforementioned. The bell 
 Kind of it is that which glifters much, is 
 white and brittle, and fooneft diffolves in 
 “Water. 
 
 7. Cimolian Earth is white, although 
 there be a Sort of it that inclines unto 
 Purple. The beft is that which is moft 
 greafy, and is very cold in one’s Hand. 
 
 It diffolves Impofthumes, and little 
 Swellings, and in Cafe of a Burn it will 
 keep the Flefh from bliftering. 
 
 8. Th zPoigite is almoft of the fame 
 Colour as the Eritrian , but is found in 
 bigger Lumps : It cools and refrefhes 
 the Hand that touches it, and if one lick 
 it, it will flick much unto the Tongue. It’s 
 Virtues are thofe of Cimolian Earth. 
 
 9 . The Melian Earth is of an Afh-Co,- 
 lour like Eritrian *, but it feels rough and 
 makes a Noife between the Fingers like a 
 Pomiceftone : It has the Virtue of Allum , 
 but very weak, as one may perceive by 
 the Tafte, for it will make the Tongue 
 fomething dry ; It cleanfes the Body, 
 gives a good Complexion, and will cure 
 the Itch, 
 
 10. Of that Earth which is called Am- 
 $ elites i the blacked: is the beft. Ground 
 with Oil it eafily diffolves, and hath a 
 cooling and loofening Virtue : Alfo it is 
 
 ufed 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 tiled to colour Hair withal ; it is wholly 
 bitumious as Jett is alfo. 
 
 Cardanus among his Curiofities makes 
 mention of another Kind of Earth, anci- 
 ently called Britannic a , from the Country 
 where it is found * r they were fain* to dig 
 very deep Mines to come at it. It was 
 white, and after they had feparated the 
 Plate it contained,, they manured their 
 Tilth -fields with the Earth, which were 
 put in heart thereby for ioo Years after. 
 
 1 1 . Out of Hands in the South-Sea, not 
 far from the City of Arica , they fetch 
 Earth that does the fame Effedl as the laft 
 aforementioned. It is called Guano , (i.e. 
 Dung) not becaufe it is the Dung of Sea- 
 fowls,. as many would have it underflood, 
 but becaufe of it’s admirable Virtue in 
 making ploughed Ground fertile. It is light 
 and fpungy ; and that which is brought 
 from the Hand of Iqueyque is of a dark 
 grey Colour, like unto Tobacco ground 
 fmall. Although from other Hands near- 
 er Arica , they get a. white Earth inclin- 
 ing to a fallow, of the fame Virtue. It in- 
 flantly colours Water whereinto it is put, 
 as if it were the befl Lye, and fmells ve- 
 ry flrong. The Qualities and Virtues cf 
 this, and of many other Simples of the 
 new World,, are a large Field for ingeni- 
 ous Perfons to difcourfe philofophically 
 upon 3 when they Ihall bend their Minds 
 
 more 
 
more to the fearching out of Truth than 
 Riches. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of Juices \ and firfi of Allum . 
 
 H E Compofitions within the Bow- 
 els of the Earth are fuch as either 
 
 will melt, or not melt. 
 
 Thofe that will not melt are hard, and 
 called Stones-, or being foft and eafily 
 crumbling into very fmall Parts, are call- 
 ed Earth. 
 
 Thofe that will melt, are either fuch 
 as after they run, by the Force of the Fire, 
 being folid and malleable * and thofe are 
 Metals ; or elfe fuch as do not obtain 
 thofe Qualities, and thofe are they that 
 are called Juices. 
 
 From the Mixture of the aforefaid four 
 Kinds of Compofitions are made eleven 
 other Sorts of Minerals, and no more. 
 
 Thofe which are hardened by Cold, 
 ungive again by Heat, as Su’phur ; but 
 fuch as are condenfed by Heat are diffolv- 
 ed again by Cold, and Water, viz. Al- 
 lum, Copperas, Salt, £sfc. 
 
 i. Thofe that write of fimple Medica- 
 ments fpeak of divers Sorts of Allum ; 
 but the true Allum is that which is called 
 
 Rock- 
 
( *5 ) 
 
 Rock-Allum, whereof fome is white and 
 tranfparent as Glafs, and other fome in- 
 clining to a red and this hath the beft 
 Virtue, and is mightily reftringent ; and 
 therefore called by the Greeks Eftypteria. 
 
 According to the Opinion of Galen ; 
 lib. iv. Of the Quality of Simple s, it fhould 
 be of a cold Quality, becaufe all aftrin- 
 gent Things are fo, and prefcribes there- 
 fore Rupecijfa , as cold in the fecond De- 
 gree, to be infufed in the QnintefTence of 
 Raymundus . But Biofcorides , and many 
 others, make it to be of a hot Quality by 
 it’s Effeds ; but this is not a convenient 
 Place to examine the Reafons of it. 
 
 2. The Allum which is called Efcayola , 
 is not a Juice, but the fame with the 
 Earth of Sami a , which the Ancients call- 
 ed After. 
 
 3. Neither is the Allum fcijjile , or de 
 pluma , a Juice, which is yet taken for 
 fuch in Apothecaries Shops, but is the 
 Stone called Amianto \ and it is not aftrin- 
 gent to tafte, nor confumes in the Fire, 
 although it be kept there very long, which 
 are the particular Qualities of an Amianto . 
 
 4. The Allum Catino is made of the A- 
 fhes of the Herb Anthide or Sofa , ( Baril- 
 la , or the Herb they make Glafs of) 
 whereof there is great Abundance in the 
 Plains of Oruro , and in feveral Places of 
 the River Langa-Solla. 
 
 5 . The 
 
( *« ) 
 
 5. The Salt which is made of the Lees 
 of Wine, or of the Calcinings of the Lees 
 until they become white, is likewife call- 
 ed Allum. 
 
 The Weft- Indies abound in Allum , as 
 they do alfo in all Sorts of Minerals. In 
 the Mines of the Lipes , near unto Coloha> 
 the head Town of that Country, I found 
 a Vein of Allum : I have feen another in 
 the hot Baths of Ventilla , in the High- 
 way between Oruro and Chayante ; and 
 there I law the true fciftile Allum , (or de 
 pluma) with all the Qualities defcribed by 
 Diofcorides . This fame Sort of Allum is 
 alfo brought to Potoft , from another 
 Mine near to Porco Aylo : And in many 
 other Parts there is the fame ; and there 
 might of it be in the City of Potoft , if 
 they would but boil the Waters de lU 
 Q ] uebrada , or Guayco de Santiago , which 
 are almofl: all Allum . 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of Copperas. 
 
 T H E Copperas is a Mineral Subftance 
 very like unto Allum , and often- 
 times they are found incorporated toge- 
 ther. 
 
 The 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 The Manner of leparating them, is to 
 put the Lye that is drawn off from the 
 Stone or Earth, which contains the Mi- 
 neral, into boiling Urine, and the Cop- 
 peras will divide from the Allum , and fall 
 to the Bottom, the Allum remaining 
 fwimming on the Top. The Copperas 
 is fharp and biting to the Tafte, and of 
 an aftringent Quality ; for which Reafon 
 divers do attribute unto it the Properties 
 of Sulphur, Iron, and Copper, the Vir- 
 tue of Allum , the Subtleness of Saltpeter , 
 and the Drynefs of Salt. 
 
 Some Alchymifts have written as if 
 the hidden Virtues of the Philofopher’s 
 Stone were contained in this Mineral, 
 whofe Latin Name is Vitriolum \ and they 
 form a Saying to that Purpofe, beginning 
 every Word with one of the Letters of it, 
 viz. Vifitabis Interiora Terr <?, ReEtifican - 
 do y Invenies Lapidem Veram Medicinam . 
 Raymundus faith, that it is very near of 
 Kindred to Gold, and hath the fame O- 
 riginal and Principle •, and it may be that 
 is the Reafon why fome affirm, that it 
 is a Sign of a Mine of Gold, although the 
 Experience in thefe Provinces doth not 
 eorrefpond therewith. It is ordinarily 
 found with Copper, and in great Abun- 
 dance with the black Metal, which affo 
 participates much of it, and thence takes 
 the ill Smell it hath in working. 
 
 It 
 
It is a very fine Sort of Copperas, which 
 the Spaniards call Copaqmras ; and the belt 
 and pureft of all, is that they call Piedra 
 Lipas , from the Mine of it found in that 
 Province *, although a few Years ago a ve- 
 ry plentiful Mine of it hath been difco- 
 veredin the Province of Acatama , which is 
 of a greenifh Colour, and that of Lipa is 
 blew. There is alfo whitifh and yellow 
 Copperas, which the Painters ufe ; and dif- 
 ferent Colours of it have caufed feveral 
 Names to be given it : Gf this Mineral 
 are thofe the Spaniards call Myfi Sori Ca - 
 lobit is , and Melanteria . 
 
 There is Difpute enough about it’s 
 Temperament and Qualities, as well as 
 about that of Allum \ fome not allowing 
 it to be hot in the third Degree, will yet 
 allow it to be fo in the fourth : And o- 
 thers on the contrary, are of the Opinion 
 of Juan de Rupecijfa> (who I think follows 
 Raymundus) that it is cold in the third 
 Degree. 
 
 It is admirable to fee it 5 s Effeft in Aqua 
 fortis ; (in which all Metals, like Salt, dif- 
 folve and are turned into Water) and an 
 ocular Demonflration of the Poffibility 
 of the Tranfmutation of Metals one in a- 
 nother : For with Copperas difiolved in 
 Aqua Fortis , without any other Artifice, 
 Iron, Lead and Tin become fine Copper: 
 And Silver will lofeof it’s Value, and be 
 
 turned 
 
( *9 ) 
 
 turned into Copper alfo with a little Help 
 of another Metal, very eafy to be gotten. 
 
 By the Force of a molt violent Heat 
 they extra# Oil from the Copperas, which 
 is called Vitriol, of wonderful Virtue. 
 
 They make two Sorts of artificial Cop- 
 peras, blew and green, of a Mixture of 
 Iron, Copper, and Brimftone, put in 
 the Fire together. 
 
 Hereafter fhall be declared, how and 
 what Mifchief Copperas hath caufed in 
 the working of Metals, a Thing hitherto 
 not taken notice of. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Of Salt . 
 
 S ALT is no lefs neceflary than com- 
 monly known in the World : And 
 that which is Mineral hath the fame Vir- 
 tue as that which is made of the Sea-wa- 
 ter, or of the Waters of brackifh. Lakes 
 or Springs. The only Difference is, that 
 the Mineral Salt is more thick and folid, 
 whence it comes to pafs to be more aftrin- 
 gent, and not fo eafily diffolved in Wa- 
 ter as the made Salt is. 
 
 The Provinces of the IVeft-Indics as 
 much abound in Salt as they do in Metals ; 
 and a Piece of the Sea between the Lipes 
 
 coagu- 
 
C 2° ) 
 
 coagulated Into Chriftalline Salt ; as alfo 
 the Sal-pits called Garci Mendoza , are 
 none of the moft inconfiderable Wonders 
 of this new World. Thofe Pits are call- 
 ed Garci Mendoza , for their Bignefs, be- 
 caufe they be forty Leagues long, and 
 (where narrowed) fixteen broad : And 
 alfo becaufe that fometimes in the Middle 
 of that Space are difcovered, as it were. 
 Wells that have no Bottom, and great o~ 
 vergrown Flfhes are feen in them. It is 
 very dangerous travelling over this Space 
 of Ground for fear of lofing one’s Eye- 
 fight, becaufe the great glittering of the 
 Sun-beams, upon that Place of Chryftal, 
 puts out one’s Eyes, unlefs they be de- 
 fended with black Tiffany. There is dan- 
 ger of Life alfo in that Journey j it hav- 
 ing happened that going over that Place, 
 the Traveller and his Horfe, and all have 
 been fwallowed up, leaving no Manner of 
 Mark behind either of them. 
 
 In the Lipes , four Leagues from the 
 Mines of St. Chriftopher de Acholla , there 
 is a fmall Lake upon the Top ‘of a little 
 Hill, in a Country they call 'Tumaqiiifa ; in 
 in the middle of which Lake the Water 
 boils, and leaps up* fometimes more, 
 fometimes lefs *, making a frightful Noife. 
 Out of Curiofity I went to fee it, and found 
 the Noife and Motion of it fo terrible, 
 that with Reafon there be very few that 
 
 dare 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 lare come near the Mouth thereof. The 
 water, is thick to that Degree, that it 
 ooks more like Dirt than Water : There 
 s one fmall Gutter wjiere-.it runs over, 
 Imd that Water iffueth forth, becomes 
 *ed Salt, as it runs along in little Chan- 
 lels. This is a mighty ftrong Salt, and 
 las twice the Virtue of common Salt in 
 ;he working of Metals. 
 
 It hath alfo been found to be an excel- 
 ent Remedy for the Dyfentery ; perchance 
 it hath in it a Mixture of the red Allum, 
 that gives it both Colour and Spirit. Hard 
 by this Lake runs a Vein of Piedra Ju - 
 dale a \ and the Country thereabous is full 
 of Mines of Copper. 
 
 A League and a half from Julloma , in 
 the Province of Pacages , there be many 
 Salt Springs, that as they gufh out of 
 the Ground in a fhortTime become pure 
 white Salt, without the Help of any Art, 
 and they increafe into Heaps of Salt, un- 
 til the Winter Rains diifolve and fweep 
 them away. In the fame Province near 
 unto Caquingora , there be more Salt-pits 
 like unto the former ; and the like there 
 is in feveral other Places. In thefe Parts 
 alfo is found in great Abundance of the 
 Mine or Rock-Salt, which is matfv and 
 tranfparent •, looking like the pureft Chry- 
 ftal. Julloma hath in it plentiful Veins of 
 this Kind of Salt. Many Years ago the 
 
 Pali a- 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 Inhabitants of Curaguara de Carangas have 
 enriched themfelves by digging of Rock- 
 Salt and of later Years they have difco- 
 vered Veins of it near the River of Langa 
 Collo • but the Salt-Mines of Tocalla which 
 God hath created near unto the rich 
 Mountain and City of Potofi , that no- 
 thing might be wanting that was necefia- 
 ry for the working of it’s Oar, yield fuch 
 Abundance of Salt as is incredible *, where- 
 of is daily fpent in the melting of Metals 
 at the lead 1500 Quantales, and this 
 Confumption hath lafted for many Years. 
 
 Befides the common Virtues of Salt, 
 which every Body knows, Arnaldo de Vi /- 
 la novo in pis Treatife for the preferving 
 of Youthful nefs, fays, that Rock-Salt is 
 beyond any Thing in the World for that 
 Purpofe : He calls it the Mineral Elixir y 
 and prefcribes, that it be prepared with 
 Things that do not weaken it, or alter it’s 
 Properties ; but he does not name the In- 
 gredients, nor the Manner of doing it. 
 Juan Beguino , in his Tyrocinio Cbymico 
 teaches how to extra# Oil out of it of an 
 extraordinary great Virtue ^ and he fays, 
 that whatfoever is preferved in that Li- 
 quor fhall be kept from Putrefa#ion for 
 many Ages : And he believes that this 
 was it that preferved the Body of the 
 beautiful Maid, Rafael Vo later ano fpeaks 
 of, that was found in the Time of Pope 
 
 Alex- 
 
C 2 3 ) 
 
 Alexander V I. in an ancient Tomb, fo 
 frefh, as if ftie had but juft newly died, 
 whereas it appeared by the Epitaph, that 
 fhe had been buried there 1 500 Years be- 
 fore. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Of Salt Ammoniac , and other Salts . 
 
 A M O N G all the Salts that Nature 
 alone produceth, the fcarceft, but 
 of greateft Virtue, is the Salt- Am- 
 moniac 3 they call it vulgarly Armoniac, 
 and from that Name conclude, that it 
 comes from Armenia , but that is not the 
 true Name of it, but Ammoniac, which in 
 the Greek fignifies, Salt of the Sand ; and 
 underneath the Sand (of the Sea-Ihore, I 
 fuppofe) it is found congealed in little 
 Pieces by it’s internal Heat, and the con- 
 tinual burning of the Sun, baked fo much, 
 that it is made the bittereft to tafte of all 
 Kind of Salt. Goldfmiths ufe it more than 
 the Phyficians. It is one of thofe they call 
 the four Spirits, becaufe the Fire will con- 
 vert them into Smoak, and fo they fly 
 away : The other three are, 
 
 1. Quickfilver, 
 
 2. Sulphur, 
 
 3. Saltpeter. 
 
 n 
 
( * 4 ) 
 
 It hath a particular Property to cleanfe 
 and colour Gold, and is put into the Com- 
 pofition of that Aquafortis that diflfolves it. 
 
 At this Day we have little Knowledge 
 of the true Nitre, which was anciently 
 made of the Water of the River Niks ; 
 although Albertus Magnus faith, that in 
 Gofelaria there was - a Mountain that con- 
 tained a very rich Mine of Copper •, and 
 the Water that iffued out at the Bottom 
 of it, being dried, became Nitre. We 
 know little alfo of Aphronitro , which is 
 but as it were the Froth of Nitre. 
 
 Borax (which is called by the Spaniards 
 Chryfolica and Antica ) is an artificial Sort 
 of Nitre, made of Urines itirred together 
 in the Heat of the Sun, in a Copper Pan, 
 with a Ladle of the fame, until it thick- 
 en and coagulate, although others make 
 it of Salt-Ammoniac and Allum. 
 
 Nitre is bitterer than Salt, but lefs Salt. 
 Saltpeter is the mean between them two, 
 and confifts of very dry and fubtle Parts, 
 it grows in the W r alls of old Houfes, and 
 in Stables, Cow-houfes, Hog-flies, and 
 Dove-coats : It will grow again in the 
 fame Earth it was taken out of, if that 
 Earth be thrown in Heaps and fpared, 
 and taken care of ; or if ordinary Earth* 
 be caft up into Heaps, and watered with 
 brackifh Water, after fome Years it will 
 give a great Encreafe, as profitable as 
 Crops of Grain. The 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 The Ufe of it in making of Gunpow- 
 der and Aqua fortis is very well known. 
 It is ufed alfo in the melting of Metals, 
 as fhall be fhewn hereafter. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Of Juices , which the Spaniards call 
 Be tunes. 
 
 rg ^ H E Betune is one of the Things 
 X that does moft Damage of all unto 
 Metals, efpecially in the melting of them, 
 becaufe it burns them, and makes them 
 become Drofs, if they be not cleared of 
 the Betune before they be put into 
 a fierce Fire : There be twelve Sorts of 
 Betune, viz. Afphalto , P iff afph alto , Nap - 
 tal la Piedra , Gagete , Azahache , Ampe - 
 lites. Maltha , Piedra Thracia , Carbones 
 de Mina , Ambar de Cuenias , Ambar Olo- 
 rofa , Alcanfor. 
 
 But few of thefe Sorts are found mixed 
 with Metals. 
 
 All Betunes are the Oilinefs or Fat of 
 the Earth *, and although fome are of O- 
 pinion, that Alchamphor is the Weeping 
 or Gum of the Tree Capar , in the Ifiand 
 of Zebat , and the Amber of another 
 Herb called Poleo y in Spanifh , whereunto 
 it is commonly found flicking. And to 
 C the 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 the fmelling Amber they afcribe for it’s 
 Original a great Fifh in the Sea like a 
 Whale, becaufe there is great Refemblance 
 between it and fperma Ceti. Neverthe- 
 lefs that doth not hinder, that fuch Sub- 
 ftances alfo may, like Sweat as itVere, 
 iffue forth of the Earth, and make thefe 
 Juices call’d Betunes. 
 
 Afphalto is found in the Lake of Sodom , 
 or the Dead Sea , in Judea , into which 
 runneth the River Jordan , three Leagues 
 from the City of Jericho . It is nothing 
 elfe but an oily Froth that fwims on the 
 Surface of the Water of that Lake, agi- 
 tated and driven by the Winds and 
 Waves a fhore, and there condenfes and 
 hardens. It is like unto Pitch, but har- 
 der, and of a better Colour. Before God 
 overthrew thofe wicked Cities of Sodom , 
 Gomorrha , Admah , and Sehoim , that fertile 
 Valley had little of this Betune in it, as 
 may be colledted from Gen. xiv. 
 
 There are found alfo in many other 
 Places and Provinces, fome whereof ufe 
 them to make Candles with, inftead of 
 Gil ; although in Peru they have not 
 been curious in farther Search than how 
 beft to work their Oar of Gold and Sil- 
 ver, yet by the Plenty of them that the 
 Indians bring, it is known that there are 
 of them in the Cordillera dela Chiriguanes , 
 in the Frontiers of I, omnia, although they 
 
( *7 ) 
 
 have little Accefs to them, becaufe they 
 be in the Power of the Indians that main- 
 tain War againfl the Spaniards. 
 
 The Pijfafphalto is a natural Compofiti- 
 on of Afphalto and Paz 9 and fo the Co- 
 lour of it declares ; and for want of the 
 true and natural PiJJafphalto , they counter- 
 feit it of thofe two Materials. 
 
 La Napthe is afulphurous Liquor, fome- 
 times white, and fometimes black alfo, 
 and is that which is called Oil of Peter y 
 of admirable Virtue to cure old Pains, 
 proceeding from cold Caufes. It will 
 draw Fire to it, as the Loadftone does I- 
 ron, with that Force, that it will take 
 Fire at a Diftance from the Flame, as 
 hath been confirmed by the miferable Ex- 
 perience of the Conde de Hercules de Icon- 
 trarii , of the Country of Ferrara , who 
 having a Well in his Cround, the Wa- 
 ter whereof was mixed with Petreol , and 
 by fome Breaches or Cracks in the Well 
 much of his Water ran to wafte, com- 
 manded it to be repaired *, the Labourer 
 that was let down into the Bottom of the 
 Well defired a Candle, the better to fee 
 his Work, which was furnifiied him in a 
 Lanthorn ; and immediately through the 
 Hole of the Lanthorn the Napthe fucked 
 the Flame into it felt, and fet Fire on the 
 whole Well, which (hCharoc d W- i-- 
 
( ** ) 
 
 blew the poor Man into Pieces, and took 
 off* an Arm of a Tree that hung over the 
 Well. The Conde himfelf told the Story 
 to Matiole , who reports it in his Diofco- 
 rides. 
 
 Afphalto and Pijfafphalto melt in the 
 Fire as Pitch or Wax, and by that they 
 are diftinguifhed from the Piedra Gagate , 
 or Afcabache , and alfo from Pit-coal, 
 which burns and confumes itfelf away like 
 Tea, or any other fort of Wood. As 
 yet I have not heard whether there be a- 
 ny Betunes in thefe Provinces, although 
 I perfwade myfelf there be, if they were 
 fought for. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of Sulphur and Antimony. 
 
 S Ulphur is the Mineral the moftuniver- 
 fally known of any. It is made of an 
 earthly undtuous Subftance r and very hot, 
 to that Degree, that it is efteemed to be 
 neareft of kin to the Element of Fire of a- 
 ny compounded Subftance. The Chy- 
 rnifts call it the Mafculine Seed, and Na- 
 ture’s firft Agent in all Generation : And 
 they fay, that the Difference between one 
 thing and another, arifes from the divers 
 Preparations and Mixtures of Sulphur and 
 
 Quick- 
 
C 29 ) 
 
 Quickfilver. It hath happened to an A- 
 pothecary, that going about to make a 
 Salve compounded of thofe two Materials ; 
 he has found the Relult to be a Plate of 
 fine Silver. After many Confiderations 
 of this Subftance, Lheophraftus Paracelfus 
 proceeds to contemplate the Wonders pro- 
 duced by Sulphur, and faith, that God by 
 an efpecial Providence hath concealed thofe 
 Myfleries *, and that it is an evident Con- 
 futation of thofe, who oppofe the Tranf- 
 mutation of Metals ; for this Mineral 
 doth effe£t it : And he teaches a way to 
 make an Oyl, called in Spanijh (Epatica 
 Sulphnris) which turns Silver into Gold. 
 And Heliana , the Author of a Book call- 
 ed La Difquifition , teaches the fame thing 
 with raw Sulphur, to fhew the poflibility 
 of it, although it be in very little Quan- 
 tity. The Smoke of it helps to fix the 
 Quickfilver, and turn it into Plate, where- 
 of there be many Eye-witnefles in thefe 
 Provinces. And this Sulphur difbilled in 
 a Glafs-ftill, makes the Oil of Sulphur of 
 fuch rare and admirable Virtue, efpeci- 
 ally for the French Pox, taking three or 
 four Drops every Morning for a Week 
 together in feme Liquor proper to convey 
 it in. It is good to cure the Difficulty of 
 Urine, and the Pains of the Gout, and 
 many other things, as you may fee in Bio - 
 dor us Euchiente , and divers other Authors. 
 
 C 3 There 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 There is abundance of Brimftone in the 
 Province of th tLipes, and in the Confines 
 of the Pacages , and in la Puna de Taco- 
 ra y or los Altos de Arica , and in many o- 
 ther Parts befides j it is found incorporat- 
 ed with Metals in the richeft Mines of 
 Peru. 
 
 The Antimony, or Stibium , which feme 
 Miners call by the Name of Alcahole , and 
 others (particularly in Oruro ) call it Ma - 
 cacote^ is a Mineral very like unto that 
 tney call Sorocha , or Lead, that is very 
 porous i it fhines very much, and is brit- 
 tle, forne of it is of a reddifh yellow Co- 
 lour, and fome there is more inclining to 
 white, and very finely grained, as Steel 
 fhews where it is broken. 
 
 It is made of a very corrupt, and im- 
 perfect Mixture of Brimftone ana Quick- 
 filver, and feems to be an Abortion of 
 Nature, and the Embrio , which would be- 
 come Metal, if it was not taken out before 
 it’s Time. 
 
 Porta Vegino , and others do teach a way 
 to draw out of this a kind of Quickfilver, 
 which they call Regalo ; but it is inclining 
 to red, and has not fo lively a Motion as 
 the ordinary Quickfilver. By Aqua fortis 
 alfo Brimftone (whereof it is compounded) 
 is gotten from it in it’s proper Form, of 
 a green Colour, and burns as ordinary 
 Brimftone does. 
 
 Bafillius 
 
( 3 1 ) 
 
 Bajillius Vallentinus in his Triumphal 
 Chariot of Antimony, having fpoken of 
 many of it’s Excellencies, afterwards teach- 
 es how to make it a Fire-ftone (as he calls 
 it) which will turn other Metals into 
 Gold. Paracelfus writes much alfo to the 
 fame Effedt ; and other Chymifts with a 
 continual Voice do fpeak of an Oil which 
 is gotten from Antimony for the fame 
 Purpofe : But for a more certain and ne- 
 ceffary Experience does Matiolus com- 
 mend his Ointment, for the curing of old 
 Ulcers, and for other Medicinal Ufes. 
 
 Stibium has a drying and aftringent Vir- 
 tue, and the Preparation (which they call) 
 Hiacint is held to be a very ftrong Purge, 
 and a Provoker to Vomit. This Alcahol 
 is very commonly found comprehended 
 in the Silver Oar, and particularly in that 
 which in Peru is called the black Oar ; ne- 
 verthelefs in many Parts it is found in a 
 Body by itfelf. It does a great deal of 
 Mifchiefin the working of Metals, asthe- 
 Betune and Brimftone does, and therefore 
 muft carefully be gotten out before- hand, 
 as fhall be fhewed hereafter. 
 
 C 4 
 
 CHAP, 
 
( 3 Z ) 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Of Marcafita , Orpiment , and Sandaraca. 
 
 M Arcafita is alfo called Syrites , which 
 fignify a Stone of Fire, becaufe 
 being {truck with Steel, it yieldeth Fire 
 in greater abundance than any other Mi- 
 neral : Some, will have it to be begotten 
 of an undigefted Vapour, others that it is 
 compofed of a courfer Sort of Brimftone, 
 or Betune, and Stone ; it grows in all 
 forts of Mines, but efpecially where there 
 is Copper, and the black Silver Oar, 
 whereof it does much participate, and 
 perhaps that is the Reafon why Diofcori - 
 des faith, that the Marcafita is a kind of 
 Copper : and notwithftanding Albertus 
 and others do think the Marcafita con- 
 tains no Metal in it, yet Experience has 
 taught the contrary •, for the Farmers of 
 Montferrat en los Chichas , when they be- 
 gun to dig thofe Veins, they found the 
 Oar to contain as much Silver as it did of 
 Marcafita : And in this Mountain of Po- 
 tofi^ and others, there is a fine Sort of 
 Marcafita , which is found incorporated 
 with the black Silver Oar, and is a cer- 
 tain Sign of it’s Richnefs ; there be as 
 many Kinds of Marcafitas , as there 
 
 are 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 are of Metals, whofe Colour they repre* 
 fenti the moft common fort looks like 
 Gold •, being put in the Fire it fmells 
 like Brimftone, aad flames much, which 
 is a Sign it is compounded, as has been 
 faid before. 
 
 Gold, Silver, and Copper are ufually 
 found contain’d in it : It is a great Hin- 
 drance to the melting of that Oar, where 
 it is incorporated, dividing the Quickfll- 
 ver into very fmall Particles, as fhall be 
 fliew’d hereafter, together with the pro- 
 per Remedies for it. 
 
 Orpiment and Sandaraca are of the lame 
 Nature and Virtue, and are only made to 
 differ by their greater or Idler Concodion 
 in the Bowels of the Earth. Sandaraca be- 
 ing nothing elfe but Orpiment well con- 
 coded, and by Confequence thereof, 
 heighten’d in Virtue, as is demonflrated 
 by putting Orpiment into a Fining-pot, 
 and fetting it on the Fire, whereby after 
 a convenient Concodion it will become 
 red, and of as lively a Colour as the 
 moft per fed natural Sandaraca. Where 
 Orpiment is found, it is a certain Sign of 
 a Mine of Gold, whereof alfo it always 
 contains fome Seed or little Particle ; as 
 Pliny reports in the Time of the Empe- 
 ror Caligula , that he did then extrad fome 
 Gold out of it : fince that time it has not 
 C 5 been 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 been attempted, becaufe the Coft does 
 much exceed the Benefit. 
 
 The befl fort of Orpiment is that, which 
 is of a fhining Gold Colour, that is not 
 fail compacted, and eafily breaks into 
 Scales. The moft perfect Sandaraca is 
 that, which is redded:, pureft, and the 
 moft brittle, of the Colour of Cinabrio , 
 (an Indian Word, of a Gold Colour ) 
 and it hath a ftrong Smell of Sulphur, 
 whereby, as alfo by it’s other Qualities 
 and medicinal Virtues, it is diftinguiftdd 
 from Sandix , which is of the fame Colour, 
 and is made of Albayalde well burnt in the 
 Fire, which fome alfo improperly call 
 Sandaraca *, thefe are Poifon, by reafon 
 of their ftrong corroding, and burning 
 Quality, not only upon the Bodies of 
 Animals, but upon Metals alfo, in like 
 manner as Antimony, or Brimftone, or 
 other dry Minerals \ for by Reafon of 
 their oily Parts, they take Fire, and be- 
 ing mingled with Metal, they burn and 
 confume the Moifture thereof whereby the 
 Metal moulders away, and is loft : 
 There be other Juices that are fcarcer, 
 and not commonly known, as they re- 
 port of one that is found in the Mine of 
 Anchergv , which is white and hard, and 
 poifons the Cattle that tafte it : And it 
 may be, of this kind was that Vein, which 
 Pcrfons of good Credit have told me was 
 
 found 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 found in the Province of Conchucos> in the 
 Archbiffioprick of Lyma , with which the 
 Inhabitants of that Country ufed to kill 
 thofe they had a mind to be rid of; to 
 prevent which wicked Pradlice, the ho- 
 ly Archbifhop de los Reyes , Don Soribio 
 Alonfo de Magrobejo , commanded the 
 Mine to be ftopt up. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Of the Generation of Stones. 
 
 I T is mod certain, that there is fome 
 very adlive Principle or Virtue that 
 operates in the Generation of Stones, as 
 well as upon the reft of the Matter of the 
 Univerfe, that is fubjedl to Generation 
 and Corruption ; but the Difficulty lies in 
 knowing what that Principle • is, becaufe 
 it operates in no determinate Place, but 
 fometimes Stones are made in the Air, in 
 the Clouds, in the Earth, in the Water, 
 and in the Bodies of Animals. 
 
 Avicenna and Albertus] think the Mat- 
 ter whereof Stones are made, to be a 
 Mixture of Earth and Water ; and if the 
 greater Part be Water, it hath the Name 
 of Liquor ; but if the greater part of it. 
 be Earth* then it is calftd Dirt or Clay, 
 
 That 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 That Clay which is fit to make Stones 
 of, mud be tough and (limy, fuch as 
 Bricks, Pots, and other earthen Veffels 
 are made of *, for if it be not fuch, as 
 foon as the Fire hath confum’d the Moi- 
 lture of the Dirt, it will not hang toge- 
 ther, but tumble into Earth and Dull : 
 It is alfo neceffary, that the Liquor which 
 is to be converted into Stone be very 
 Hi my ; The Experience whereof we find 
 in our own Bodies. The Phyficians be- 
 ing generally of an Opinion, that the 
 Stone is begotten in the Reins and Blad- 
 der of fiimy tough Humours, bak’d hard 
 by the Heat of the Body *, this Opinion 
 touching petrifying Liquors, is confirm’d 
 paft all Queftion, by the Experiment of 
 that Famous Water in this Kingdom of 
 Peru , near unto Guancaveilca ; which they 
 take and put into Moulds of what Form 
 and Bignefs they pleafe, and expofe it to 
 the Sun for a few Days, whereby it is 
 made perfect Stone, and they build their 
 Houfes with it : All the Cattle that 
 drink it die, and from what has been 
 faid before, it is not hard to conje&ure 
 the Reafon. 
 
 In a Mountain call’d Pacocava , a 
 League from the Mines of Verenguela de 
 Pajages , there be Springs of this Liquor, 
 the Colour whereof is whitifh, inclining 
 to yellow, that as it runs along condenf- 
 
 es 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 es into very hard and weighty Stone of 
 different Shapes. Moreover any porous 
 Subftance that can fuck this kind of Li- 
 quor into it, is apt to be turn’d into 
 Stone •, and of thofe I have feen Trees, 
 and Limbs and Bones of Beafts turn’d in- 
 to hard Stone. In the City de Plata I 
 have feen Sticks of Wood taken out of 
 that great River of the fame Name *, fo 
 much of which as had remain’d cover’d 
 with the Water, being converted into 
 very fine Stone. I faw aifo the Teeth and 
 Bones of Giants, that were dug up in Ta- 
 rija , turn’d into heavy and hard Stone. 
 
 Stones have their fubflantial Forms, 
 which makes them differ fpecifically *, yet, 
 becaufe we cannot come to the Knowledge 
 of thena in our Definitions, we are fain, 
 by way of Periphafis, to make ufe of Ac- 
 cidents and Properties. Every feveral 
 form of the Stones is accompany’d with 
 particular Virtues, as remarkable as thofe 
 of Animals or Plants, and proportion’d 
 to the Length of Time Nature takes in 
 it’s Generation ; but becaufe Plants and 
 Animals are to have fo different Difpofiti- 
 ons, and to produce fuch various and ad- 
 mirable Effedts, they cannot be of fo uni- 
 form, and well mingl’d a Temperament 
 as the Stones are, nor is their foft and 
 gentle Subftance capable to endure fo 
 much Force $ as neither is the Hardnefs 
 
 of 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 cf the Stones fitted for the producing va- 
 riety of feveral Shapes, and therefore in 
 them are found no Leaves, Flowers, 
 Fruits, Hinds nor Feet, as is in Plants 
 and Animals, though they have a great- 
 er Virtue of another Kind. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Of the Differences of Stones one from a- 
 nother. 
 
 L L Sorts of Stones are reducible 
 
 under fome of thefe following Spe- 
 
 cies. 
 
 1 . If they be fmall, very fcarce, and 
 very hard of Subftance, and have Luftre, 
 they are call’d precious Stones. 
 
 2. If they be of great Magnitude, al- 
 tho’ they be rare and have Luftre, they 
 are fome Kind of Marble. 
 
 3. If in breaking they fall into Splin- 
 ters or Scales, they are a Sort of Flints. 
 
 4. If they be of a fmall Grain, they 
 be Pebbles. 
 
 5. Thofe that have none of the above- 
 faid Qualifications, are Rocks or ordina- 
 ry Stones. 
 
 But the Miners for the better Diftinfti- 
 on of the Sorts of Stone wherein Metals 
 are engendred, ufe peculiar Names for 
 
 them 5 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 them ; for example, a kind of Stone like 
 Pebble, which contains Gold, Silver, or 
 any other Metal they call Gums , which 
 breeds a richer Vein of Metal than any o- 
 ther Stone. 
 
 Cachi , another fort of Stone, white like 
 Alabafter, loft and eafy to break in Pie- 
 ces, in all this Country call’d Salt. Much 
 Lead is engendered in this Kind of Stone, 
 in the Veins of Me tales pacos , which is 
 the Name the Miners here give unto their 
 Silver Oar. 
 
 Chumpi , v/hich is fo call’d, becaufe it 
 is of a grey Colour, is a Stone of the 
 kind of Efmeril, mix’d with Iron *, it 
 Ihines a little, and is very hard to work, 
 becaufe it refills the Fire much. It is 
 found in Potofi and Chocaya and other Pla- 
 ces, with the black Metals and Rojicleres. 
 
 Lamacrudria is that Stone which is clofe 
 compared, and folid, and fliews not the 
 leaft Grain nor Poroufnels when you break 
 it, and is of a yellow Colour, and fome- 
 times high colour’d, as Blood-red. 
 
 Almaclaneta is the Name they give ano- 
 ther Kind of Stone, which is very folid 
 and weighty, of a dark Colour, always 
 Found in the Company of rich Metals, 
 which are engendred in it, when it comes 
 to be corrupted and rotten ; as in like 
 Manner is done in the Gouiios . It grows 
 
 upon 
 
 & 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 upon the Flints of the Gold Mines, and 
 thofe of Copper and Silver. 
 
 Almolacleru , or Whetftone, is that or- 
 dinary Stone, which is commonly made 
 ufe of for that Purpofe, and fo known to 
 every Body. Divers rich Metals grow 
 upon it, but moft commonly Iqs Cobrifcos. 
 
 The Veins of Silver are rare and incon- 
 fiderable that are found in Pit-Coal ; al- 
 tho’ it be a more proper Bed for Gold. 
 
 Other Stones that grow in Mines, or 
 cleave unto the Metal, they call Ciques , 
 and alfo Caxas, which are rough and un- 
 even *, but not very hard, nor very fpon- 
 gy, and commonly have nothing of Me- 
 tal in them, altho* in fome rich Mines 
 they are infe&ed with fome little, by the 
 Vicinity of the Oar. 
 
 The Stones of Potofi , call’d Vilaciques , 
 have been, and are very famous for the 
 Abundance of Silver gotten out of them *, 
 and are one of the Ingredients that make 
 this Province without Comparifon. Vila 
 fignifies Blood in Peru , or any red thing *, 
 and for the Streaks of red this Stone hath 
 in it, they call it Vileciques . 
 
 CHAP, 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Of precious Stones. 
 
 P RECIOUS Stones are either tranfpa- 
 rent, as the Diamond is, or obfcure, 
 as the Onyx, or between both, as the San- 
 donyx and the Jafper. It is the Water 
 which is the principal Caufe of Clearnefs, 
 and the Earth of the Opacity of them. So 
 that the Reafon why they excel one the 
 other in Luftre and Tranfparency, is from 
 the variety of Humours congeal'd toge- 
 ther to compofe them, which are fome 
 of them more pure and clear than others. 
 
 White Stones are made of Humour al- 
 moft like Water, and fo are more clear 
 and transparent *, fuch is the Chriftal, and 
 the Iris fo call’d, becaufe being held op- 
 pofite to the Sun- beams, it much refe ru- 
 bles the Rainbow. 
 
 The Diamond is engendred of a lefs 
 clear Humour, than the Chriftal or Iris, 
 and fo is more obfcure than either of them. 
 The fame Variety may be obferved in 
 precious Stones of what Colour foever 
 they be * whether compofed of Juices or 
 Humours that be green, as the Emerald, 
 and the Prafma ; or of blew, as Saphir, 
 the Cajano, and fome fort of Jafper * or 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 red, as the Ruby ; or purple, as the Ja- 
 cynth and Amathift.; or Gold-colour, as 
 the Chryfolites and Topaz ; or of min- 
 gled Colours, as the Opalos. 
 
 In like manner it is to be imagin’d, 
 that the other forts of Stones that are not 
 transparent, are engendred of a Mixture 
 of black and thick Humours *, an Inftance 
 whereof we fee in Water, which though it 
 be naturally white and clear, yet mingled 
 with Ink or fuch like Liquor, it lofeth 
 it’s Tranfparency, tho’ not the Luftre of 
 it’s Superficies. 
 
 The different Colours of the Juices or 
 Humours aforefaid, arifes from the vari- 
 ous Mixture of black and white Matter, 
 whereof the Stones are engendred. Al- 
 though Raymundus and many others attri- 
 bute it more immediately to the Variety 
 of Metals, of whole pureft Liquors pre- 
 cious Stones are engendred, in the Heart 
 of other hard Stones, whither that Li- 
 quor hath penetrated, and thereby much 
 refined itfelf. And that in Eftimation, 
 precious Stones hold in Proportion to the 
 Metals of which they are engendred, as 
 the Ruby to Gold, the Diamond to Sil- 
 ver, the Emerald to Copper, and the reft 
 in like Manner. In his Compendium of 
 Tranfmutation, dedicated to Robert King 
 of England , he doth particularly teach the 
 Way of making precious Stones, by a 
 
 Mixture 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 Mixture of the Waters of divers Metals, 
 as beautiful and of the fame Virtue as the 
 natural ones are. A Knowledge over 
 and above other excellent Qualities of that 
 rare Perfon, which feems to out go Hu- 
 man Capacity. But it is the eafier to be 
 believed, becaufe we fee Efmalts made of 
 divers Colours, by a Compofition of Mi- 
 nerals ground to Powder and Glafs, and 
 Falfe Stones made in the fame Manner. 
 
 Tranfparent precious Stones have ma- 
 ny Faults in them, which by Reafon of 
 their Clearnefs are fooner difcover’d by 
 the Eye, than thofe in common Stones, 
 as Spots appear the moit in fined: Gar- 
 ments v and it is. rare to find a Stone that 
 hath not lome Defect or other 3 either 
 Spots, or Hair, Cloud, Shadow, Salt, 
 or other thing fubjeCt to be engendred in 
 them, becaufe the Humour of which it 
 is made is not all of one Colour. A Sha- 
 dow arifes from the Humours being more 
 obfcure in that Part. A Cloud comes 
 from the Humours being too white in that 
 Part. Hairs, which are oftenefl found in 
 the Saphir, and Salt whifch particularly 
 hurts the Opalos, as Lead doth the Eme- 
 rald, are Impediments of different Co- 
 lours from the true Colours of the Stone 
 in which they are. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Whether there be precious Stones in the 
 Kingdom of Peru. 
 
 H ITHERTO the Induflry of the Peo- 
 ple of thefe Provinces hath been 
 principally apply’d in the fearch afterGold 
 andSilver,and they have neglected the En- 
 quiry after precious Stones, altho’ there 
 have been and are many notable Indicati- 
 ons that this flourifhing Kingdom wants 
 not this Prerogative alfo. 
 
 There is a conftant Report, and I my- 
 felf have heard it in the Country of the 
 Lipesy that in the adjoining Province of 
 dcatamay there have been found excellent? 
 Diamonds, and that in exchange for a 
 little CocuSy worth not above two Reals, 
 an Indian old Woman fold a handful of 
 rough Diamonds, which in Spain were 
 worth many Ducats. It is a Country full 
 of beautiful Stones to fee to, and there- 
 fore it may very well be fuppofed to have 
 Riches in it. 
 
 There be ftore of Amathifts in a Wood 
 call’d by that Name, which Hands hard 
 by the Mines of Efmeruco. And in the 
 rich Mine of St. Elizabeth of new Potojiy 
 there be found rich and well grown Ama- 
 
 thifts 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 thifts among the Silver Oar. There are of 
 the fame kind of precious Stones m Para- 
 guay and Buenos Ayres ; they are engen- 
 dred in Papas Lanadas , one or two Fa- 
 thom under Ground, in a very heavy 
 Flint-done, which they call a Coco , be- 
 caufe like the Coco Nut ; it is about the 
 bignefs of one’s Head. The Amathift 
 within will be as big about as two Fin- 
 gers, naturally coagulated into Shapes like 
 fine Lace, and is more or lefs mature and 
 perfect, according to the Condition it was 
 in when the Coco burft, which it doth of 
 his own Accord, and then makes a Re- 
 port like a piece of Ordnance, and makes 
 the Earth near it tremble for a good 
 while ; and juft over it to break and o- 
 pen •, by which Tokens Men go to the 
 Place, and dig for the Coco, which they 
 find fplit in two, three, or more Pieces. 
 This is a Thing well known, and com- 
 mon in thefe Parts of the World. Near 
 unto the Place, call’d Aqua Caliente , for 
 the hot Water that there gufhes out, in 
 the Way between Potofi and the Lipes y 
 there is a Pampa full of a pure tranfparent 
 Chriftalline Stone, form’d by Nature in- 
 to feveral Angles, that meet in one Point : 
 I always pickt up fome of them when I 
 went that Way *, admiring their Beauty, 
 for expofing them to the Sun-beams, they 
 look’d all like fo many feveral Suns. The 
 
 largeft 
 
( 4 « ) 
 
 largeft that I faw of them was about the 
 bignefs of one’s Thumb. 
 
 Of this fort, altho’ much fmaller, yet 
 there be abundance in the Countries of 
 Callapo and Julloma : In the Province of 
 Pacages I gather’d fome alfo naturally cut 
 like Role-Diamonds, as big as large Peafe ; 
 and walking the Sand, I often obferv’d 
 amongft it little fmall Points of the Co- 
 lour of Gold, and tranfparent, like unto 
 the bed Topaz; and others of that Sort 
 as big as Barley-corns, which if they 
 were bigger, would be of great Efteem, 
 and no doubt but fuch might be found, if 
 hearty Induftry were employ’d therea- 
 bout. 
 
 The Stones of the Mine of Camata , in 
 the Province of Larecaxa , to vie in Beau- 
 ty with the Diamond, and are worn in 
 Bracelets and Rings in this Kingdom. 
 
 In the great Head Land of Arica , be- 
 tween the Rocks within the Port, there is 
 a Mine, whence they get Stones tranfpa- 
 rent as Diamonds, and very near as hard, 
 whereof alfo they make Jewels. 
 
 The beft Turqueyes are found in Ata- 
 cama: I have feen one in th tLipes, as big 
 as a Twelvepence Englijh . The Indians 
 of this Country efteem it great Bravery to 
 have Necklaces and Bracelets of fmall 
 Turqueys ciirioully compofed. The Men 
 wear pr it ones of this Kind about their 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 Necks, like Gold Chains. They wear 
 fuch Chains alfo of green Stones ; and the 
 Officers of their Armies edeem them mod 
 of all, and account them the bed Ran- 
 fom a Prifoner can give them. 
 
 Pearls alfo are gotten on the Coads of 
 Atacama , and in the Mexillones , which 
 are taken out of Oyders, and brought hi- 
 ther to fell : it is very ordinary to find 
 Pearls in the Drefilng or Eating of Oy- 
 ders. 
 
 I have little Knowledge of the Fertili- 
 ty of the lower Countries in thefe kinds, 
 becaufe they have little or no Commerce 
 here. Befides my chief Intention is to 
 give your Lordfhip Information of the 
 Mines of the Provinces fubjedt to your 
 own Jurifdidtion, and that I have feen in 
 Perfon. Neverthelefs, at the Time of 
 the fird Conqued of thefe Countries, there 
 were found many and very large Eme- 
 ralds in the Hands of the Natives, as ap- 
 pears by the Hidories thereof. 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 Of other Sorts of Stones . 
 
 I T doth very little import the Owners 
 of Mines, for whole fake principal- 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 written this T reatife, to difcourfe more 
 particularly of other Stones, although the 
 common Sort of Stones, becaufe they are 
 fo, little inquired into or underftood * and 
 when in Mines they meet with fome 
 Stones of rare Colour and Tranfparency : 
 Their Beauty would invite the Miners E- 
 fteem, if the Covetoufnefs after Gold and 
 Silver, which they feek for, did not 
 blind their Eyes and Underftandings, fo 
 that they cannot attend to look after them. 
 But becaufe I have given an Account of 
 all Minerals together *, and that Marbles 
 are of next Eftimation unto precious 
 Stones : It is but Juftice to treat a little 
 of thofe Marbles we find in thefe Provin- 
 ces, which I believe equal to any that 
 we read of in Story. 
 
 The Province of Acatama , above all 
 others, beft deferves to be curioufly en- 
 quir’d into, by able and experienced Ar- 
 tifls ; for it produces Stones of fuch va- 
 rious Colours, and beautiful Glols and 
 Luftre, that only the great Quantity and 
 Abundance of them hinders them from 
 being reckon’d among the. precious 
 Stones. 
 
 This whole Kingdom is full of curious 
 Altars made of thefe Stones, and many 
 of them have been carried into Europe , 
 and they have not been wrought for any 
 other Purpofes \ yet either for want of 
 
 Stone- 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 Stone-cuttters to work them, or becaufe 
 moft of us in thefe Parts have in our Eye 
 to return home again into Spain with great 
 E dates, and care not for perpetuating our 
 Fame in thefe Parts by fumptuous Build- 
 ings, for which thefe Sort of Stones were 
 very fit Materials. 
 
 There is a Stone in this Imperiality, 
 worthy for it’s Variety, Luftre, and Great- 
 nefs, to be prefented to the View of the 
 King our fovereign Lord. It is fix Palms 
 in Length, and one Palm fix Inches lefs in 
 Breadth, and two Fingers thick ; it is in 
 form like a Plank or large Table j it is 
 full of delicate Clouds, made by the Com- 
 pofition of it’s Colours : There be fome 
 red, and Ihining tranfparently, others 
 more obfcure,, as black, yellow, green 
 and white. Upon the blacked: Spot in 
 all the Stone is refembled Snow, as it 
 were falling upon it, or Milk, according 
 as the White happens to be mix’d with 
 Shadow. 
 
 In the Mines of Verenguela de Pac agues ^ 
 there be other Stones, not inferior in the 
 ‘N’oblenefs of their Subftance and Luftre, 
 to thofe of Atacama , altho* they have not 
 that Variety of Colours. They be white 
 as Alabafter, and tranfparent ; and be- 
 caufe that Colour is rot equally diftribut- 
 ed, it caufeth, as it were, Clouds, which 
 gives much Gracefulnefs and Beauty to 
 D the 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 the Stone : No Liquor will fink into 
 them, they be fo hard, like unto Chry- 
 ftal. The Font in the .Church of Jullo~ 
 ?na is a very large one, and yet it is made 
 of one of thefe Stones *, and tho 5 it be fix 
 iFingers in Thicknefs, yet you may plain- 
 ly fee thro’ the Sides of it the Light of a 
 •Candle ftuck up in the Middle, In the 
 Jefuits, College in the City of Paz , there 
 is a famous Water-pot of this Stone, thro* 
 whofe Sides you may fee the Water rife 
 .as it is poured in, juft as if it were thro 9 
 tranfparent Glafs. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Of form Accidents happening to Stones , and 
 the Caufe of them . 
 
 B ESIDES Shining and Tranfparency, 
 which hath been laid, is found in di- 
 vers Stones, and in the common fort of 
 JStones is not found ; there be alfo other 
 Accidents that accompany them, viz. ‘ 
 Hardaefs and Softaefs. 
 
 Hardnefs is fo efientia] to all precious 
 Stones, that they be not held for luch, 
 upon whom the File will make any Im- 
 preftion. If the Matter of which the 
 Stone is compounded be tough, and dri- 
 ed by a violent Fire, till the Moifture be 
 confurn'd^ it caufeth Hardnefs, becaufe it 
 
 con- 
 
( 5 * ) 
 
 contracts and condenfes the Matter with- 
 in itfelf. If the Matter have little or no 
 Toughnefs, then the Moifture being 
 eafily dry’d away by Heat, and the earthy 
 Part burnt, there will remain a Stone foft 
 and brittle ; alfo the ambient Cold will 
 condenfe Matter and make it hard, as 
 we fee in Stones congeal’d thereby, the 
 which will diffolve again by the Fire, 
 and the congeal’d Humour relax and run ; 
 Stones that want Moifture enough to glue 
 their terreftrial Parts together, when they 
 be put into the Fire they break into final! 
 Pieces ; and thofe which are dried: of all 
 do refolve into Duff or Lime by the Fire. 
 
 Some Stones are porous, others mafty, 
 and well put together. The firft arifes 
 from the unequal and ill Mixture of the 
 wet and dry Parts whereof it is compound- 
 ed, fo that the Heat exhaling the Moifture, 
 where no earthy Subftance was mingled 
 with it, leaves a hollow Place or Pores, 
 which make fpongy Stones. As for the 
 oppofite Reafon, we fee the contrary Ef- 
 fect in mafty Stones. Stones are found 
 of various Figures, and caufing as much 
 Admiration as moft Things in Nature. 
 Perchance it may come from the various 
 Mixture, Colours, and Veins of Stones, 
 as you may fee in their Clouds and Spots 
 reprefen ted Towers, Sheep, and other A- 
 nimals and Figures. And in Lead pour- 
 D z ed 
 
( 5 Z ) 
 
 $d out upon Water often happens the like," 
 The Story is famous of the Agates of 
 King Pirrhus , that reperfented Apollo and 
 the nine Mufes as lively as the belt Pain- 
 ter could draw them ; and Cardanus fays, 
 he had one of that kind that was a true 
 and exadt Pidlure of the Emperor Galba . 
 
 They fay, that in the Houfe of Wifdom 
 at Conftantinople , there is a Marble Stone, 
 that by the very natural Veins of the ; 
 Stone, hath the Picture of St, John the 
 Baptift , with his cloathing of Camels Skin 
 expreffed to the Life, excepting one of 
 his Feet, which is imperfedt. 
 
 . It i$ a hgn that Nature hath not wrought 
 by Chance, but by particular Study, and 
 to fome myfterious End, when in the fame 
 Species of Stones are found the fame 
 Marks and Figures, like thofe in the 
 Fields of Versna, which Leon Baptifta re^ 
 ports to have feen *, and that they have 
 painted upon them the Image of the Chair 
 of Solomon . And another black Stone, 
 which being broken at one End, hath 
 ptinted in it exadtly, and to the Life the 
 Pidlure of a Serpent ; and that it hath the 
 Virtue to draw Serpents unto it. Albertus 
 Magnus affirms to have feen 500 Serpents 
 gotten upon a Stone of that kind, which 
 was prefen ted unto him. 
 
 When we meet with Stones that repre- 
 deni Animals, or the Limbs of them, or 
 
 Plants, 
 
Plants, or other Things not by fuperficlal 
 Draught or Colouring, but in Bulk and 
 Subftance. I belive it may arife fronl 
 fome petrifying Liquor, which that Mat- 
 ter has fuck’d into it’s Pores, and there- 
 by is become all Stone, and fo thinks 
 Avicenna : But although fometimes this 
 may be the Caufe thereof yet methinks it 
 cannot reafonably be fuppofed to be fo al- 
 ways. 
 
 At the foot of the Mountains Mifnen- 
 fes, near unto the Lake of Alfatia, Stones 
 are very commonly found that have em- 
 bofs’d upon their Superficies, the Images 
 of Frogs and Fillies in fine Copper. An- 
 ciently they call’d a fort of Stones Conchi* 
 tes , which were in all their Lineaments 
 very like unto the Cockles of the Sea * 
 and they thought that thofe Fifh-fhells ly- 
 ing a long time in Soil, where much 
 Stones were begotten, the petrifying Li* 
 
 . quor entring into the Pores of the Shell* 
 converted it into Stone : And they 
 ground this Opinion upon the Certainty 
 that the Sea in old time hath overflown 
 the whole Territory of the City of Maga~ 
 ra , where only thefe fort of Stones are 
 found. But of latter Times all Colour of 
 Reafon is taken away from the foremen- 
 tion’d Conceit, by the wonderful Veins 
 of Stone, fome grey, fome iron colour’d, 
 and fome yellow, which are found in the 
 D 3 High- 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 Highway as one goes from Potq/i to Oro * 
 nefta down the Hill. There they gather 
 Stones that have in them Impreflions of 
 divers forts of Figures, fo much to the 
 Life, that nothing but the Author of Na- 
 ture itfelf could poffibly have produc’d 
 fuch a piece of Workmanfhip. I have 
 fome of thefe Stones by me in which you 
 may fee Cockles of all forts, great, mid- 
 dle-fiz’d, and fmall ones, fome of them 
 lying upwards, and fome downwards, 
 with the fmalleft Lineaments of thofe 
 Shells drawn in great Perfection ; and 
 this Place is in the Heart of the Country, 
 and the moft double mountainous Land 
 therein, where it were Madnefs to ima- 
 gine that ever the Sea had prevail’d, and 
 left Cockles only in this one Part of it. 
 There be alfo among thefe Stonesthe per- 
 fect Refemblance of Toads and Butter- 
 flies, and ft range Figures, . which tho* I 
 have heard from credible Witnefles, yet 
 ] forbear to mention,, and not to over- 
 burden the Belief of the Reader. Over- 
 againft this wonderful Vein of Land, on 
 the other Side of the Valley of Qroncc- 
 ta , ftands that famous Piece of Land they 
 call Pucara , which fignifles in their Lan- 
 guage Fortrefs, it is a Place the beft for- 
 tify’d by Nature of any now known in the 
 World, being fituate very high, feven 
 Leagues in Compafs, and all furrounded 
 
 with 
 
C 55 ) 
 
 with high and inacceffible Hills, only on 
 the one Side there is a fmall Avenue after 
 having pad a very difficult Afcent. In 
 it’s fpacious Fields, on the Top, there 
 be many fine Brooks of Water, Wood, 
 Pa dure- ground, Commons, and Wades, 
 very commodious for the Support of Hu- 
 man Life. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 Of the Generation of petals* 
 
 I T is no Wonder, that learned Men 
 differ fo much in their Opinions, a- 
 bout the Matter whereof Metals are en~ 
 gendred, becaufe the Author of Nature 
 feems to have created them in that Ob- 
 fcurity, and Depth, and to have immur’d 
 them with hard Rocks on Purpofe to hide 
 their Caufes, and to give Check to the 
 Ambition of Man. 
 
 The Philofophers, who pretend t|> 
 know the Caufes of Things, befides the 
 fird Matter, which is the fird Principle* 
 not only of Metals, but of all other Bo- 
 dies in the World, aflign another Matter 
 remote alfo, which is a certain moid and 
 un&uous Exhalation, together with a Por- 
 tion of thick and tough Earth, from 
 which, being mingled together, there re- 
 fuks a Matter, whereof not only Metals, 
 D 4 but 
 
( 5 « ) 
 
 bntalfo Stones are made; for if the Dri* 
 nefs prevail, Stones are begotten; but if 
 the Undluous Humidity be predominant, 
 then Metals are begotten : Plato , Arifto - 
 tle> and their Followers are of this Opi- 
 nion. 
 
 From the Abundance of this pure and 
 fhining Moifture, made folid, proceeds 
 the Luftre of Metals, in whom, of all the 
 Elements, Water is expreimentally, and 
 known to be moft predominant, and there- 
 fore they rim, and are diffolv’d by the 
 Fire. 
 
 i From the various Temperament and Pu- 
 rity of the aforefaid Matter, comes the di- 
 vers kinds of Metals ; the moft pure and 
 fine of all which, and, as it would feem. 
 Nature’s principal Intention, is Gold. 
 
 Many to avoid difficult Difputes of this 
 Nature, do hold with the Vulgar ; that 
 at the Creation of the World God Al- 
 mighty made the Veins of Metals in the 
 fame Condition as we now find them at 
 this Day ; herein doing Nature a great 
 Affront, by denying her, without Reafon, 
 a produdtive Virtue in this Matter, which 
 is allow’d unto her in all other fubl unary 
 Things ; moreover, that Experience in 
 divers Places hath manifefted the contrary. 
 A clear Example whereof we have in 
 lively an Ifland adjoining unto Tufcany, 
 full of Iron Mines, which when they have 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 dug as h6llow, and as deep as they can, 
 the circumjacent Earth falls in, and fills 
 them up again ; and in the fpace of ten 
 or fifteen Years at mofl, they work thofe 
 Mines again, and thence draw out abun- 
 dance of Metal, which this new Earth 
 hath been converted into ; many do 
 think the fame happens in the rich Hill in 
 Potofi ; at the lead: all of us know, that 
 the Stones, which divers Years we have 
 left behind us, thinking there was not 
 Plate enough in them to make it worth 
 our Labour, we now bring home, and 
 find Abundance of Plate in them, which 
 can be attributed to nothing but to the per- 
 petual Generation of Silver. 
 
 The Alchymifls, a Name grown odi- 
 ous, by Reafon of the Multitude of ig- 
 norant Pretenders to that Art, with more 
 profound and practical Philofophy have 
 anatomiz’d the Mixtures of Nature, and 
 reduc’d them from their firH Principles ; 
 and concerning the Matter of Metals, do 
 difcourfe in the Manner following : The 
 Sun, they fay, and all the Stars with their 
 Light, proper-, or borrow’d, continually 
 going round the Earth, doth heat the 
 fame, and with their fubtil Rays pene- 
 trate through it’s Veins; and w 7 e fee 
 things long burnt in the Fire are convert- 
 ed into other terene Subftances, as Wood 
 and Stone, into Lime and Afhes ; fo in 
 D 5 like 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 like manner the Earth calcined by the 
 Celeftial Bodies, mingled and boiled with 
 Water, changes itfelf into the other kind 
 of Species, that contains in itfelf fome- 
 thingof the Subftance’of Salt and Allum. 
 Every Day we fee the fame Effe&s in the 
 Lees made of lame, Afhes, Sweat 
 and Urine, all which by boiling, get the 
 Tafte of Salt. This firfl Matter, or 
 Foundation of the Generation of Metals 
 in Vitriol, which is eafier to believe, fince 
 we fee that all of them by Art may be re- 
 duced thereunto, and the Manner of re- 
 ducing fome of them fhall be declar’d 
 hereafter. 
 
 This Vitriol by the Heat of fubterra- 
 nean Fire, and Attraction of the heaven- 
 ly, fends forth two Fumes or Vapours ; 
 the one earthly, fubtil, and un&uous, 
 and fomething digefled, which the Phi- 
 lofophers call Sulphur, becaufe it hath 
 the Qualities thereof : The other Vapour 
 is moift, waterifh, flimy, and mingled 
 with very fine Earth; and this is the next 
 Matter, whereof Quickfilver is made. If 
 thefe two vaporous Exhalations do find a 
 free and wide Paffage out of the Earth, 
 then being carry’d up into the Region of 
 the Air, they are converted into Comets 5 
 Clouds, Snow, Hail, Thunder, and o~ 
 ther Things that appear there. 
 
 But if the aforefaid Exhalations chance 
 
 " tQ 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 to be included between hard Rocks, in 
 flrait and narrow Places, whence it can- 
 not get out, or the Place be already full 
 of Minerals, the faid Vapours will thick- 
 en, and be turn s d into thofe they call half 
 Minerals. 
 
 If thefe Fumes penetrating the Rocks, 
 do not meet with a kind of clarifykl 
 Brimftone, that ffiines like Silver, and is 
 fomethinglike unto the Fire-ftone, which 
 the Spaniards call Marcqfita ( without 
 which no Metal can be engendred ) they 
 will ftain the Rocks with feveral forts of 
 Colours ; if thefe Vapors afcending, and 
 endeavouring to get out meet with any 
 Stones fo hard as they cannot penetrate 
 them, then they are converted into perpe- 
 tual Springs of Water ; the like Effect 
 whereof we fee in every common Still % 
 but if when they pafs through the Rocks 
 they meet with thofe two Juices, * namely 
 the Fire-ftone, or Brimftone clarify s d and 
 confolidated, as hath been faid a little be- 
 fore, then it diffo Ives the laid Juices, 
 mixing itfelf with them, and after boiling 
 together a convenient Time, it thickens 
 and hardens in the Mine •, this is the Doc- 
 trine of Bracefco in his Comment upon Ge~ 
 tro •, but the greateft Number of Alchy- 
 mills do affirm the immediate Matter of 
 Metals to be Quickfilver and Sulphur, 
 .and that from the different Proportion of 
 
 their 
 
( 6s ) 
 
 their Mixture, and greater or leffer Puri- 
 fication, refults the Difference that is found 
 in Metals. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 *The Opinion that Quickfilver and Sulphur 
 are the Matter whereof Metals are made , 
 is defended . 
 
 T HOSE that think nothing can be 
 effected that comes not within the 
 Compafs of their own Capacity, a Pre^ 
 fumption very unworthy of learned Men, 
 and much diminifhing their Credit, who 
 are poffeffed therewith, from Reafons that 
 neither convince nor are of any Force to 
 deny, hold, that it is notpoffibleby Art to 
 change one fort of Metal into another. It 
 is not proper in this place to examine all 
 the Arguments of that kind, altho 9 the 
 great Connexion they have with the right 
 Knowledge' of Metals, whereof we treat, 
 makes it necefiary to handle fome of 
 them, and to make the Weaknefs of their 
 Foundation plainly to appear. 
 
 They fay, that the Alchymifts are ig- 
 norant of the Manner whereby Nature 
 creates and brings Metals to perfe&ion ; 
 and that it is erroneous to fay, they are 
 compounded of Quickfxlver and Brim- 
 
 ftgne* 
 
{ 6i ) 
 
 ftone, becaufe if it were fo, there would 
 be found in the Mines of Gold and Silver, 
 and of other Metals, feveral Indications 
 and Pieces of thofe Juices ; whereas com- 
 mon Experience fhews the contray ; for 
 Anfwer thereunto, the firfh Part of 
 that Reafon imports little ; for though it 
 be granted, it infers no more, but that 
 thofe Alchymifts that went about thofe 
 Tranfmutations, proceeded mechanically, 
 and without good Knowledge in the Art; 
 but neverthelefs it remains poffible that 
 fuch Tranfmutation may be made. 
 
 The fecond Part of the foremention’d 
 Reafons fhews plainly the great Rafhnefs 
 wherewith they affirm that which they 
 know very little of ; for there is nothing 
 more experimentally known concerning 
 Metals, than their ordinary Mixture with 
 Brimftone ; and the Abundance of Brim- 
 ftone in Minerals, is an efpecial good 
 Sign of the Richnefs ; a Efficient Exam- 
 ple whereof is the Rofe-colour’d Oar of 
 the famous Mountain of Sanfita Ifabella of 
 »ew Pot oft , in the rich Province of the 
 Pipes , which is almoft all Plate, and en- 
 gendred amongft fuch Abundance of 
 Brimftone, that the Cavities and hollow 
 Places in the Rocks are prefen tly on Fire, 
 if a lighted Candle touch them; 
 
 All thofe Oars which they call Soroche s 
 jMulatos % and Negrileos^ and all fuch as do 
 
 touch 
 
( <S* ) 
 
 touch upon Antimony, or the Fireflone, 
 are certainly known to abound in Sulphur, 
 or Brimftone, as fhall be declar’d here- 
 after. 
 
 In the very lame Manner is Qaickfilver 
 found incorporated with the Metals, altho* 
 it be lefs taken Notice of, becauie it is in- 
 difcernable in the Oar, as it comes out of 
 the Ground, and when it is put in the 
 Fire, the Quickfilver fumes away, and 
 leaves no Smell behind it, as the Sulphur 
 does, but it’s Effects are too well experi- 
 mented in the Deftruction of thole that la- 
 bour in the Fumes whereOar is melted: and 
 a few Years ago we have been undeceived 
 in this Manner by the O^r of Cbalatiri 
 (which is four Leagues from the City, 
 the moll celebrated and rich one in the 
 World, Potofi ) which being melted down, 
 left in the Furnace a Bar of Silver, andal- 
 fo a great deal of Quick-filver, which 
 they pick’d out of thole Alhes that were 
 coolell, the Plenty of Qaickfilver there 
 did expofe itlelf to View' •, and afterwards 
 taking more Pains to work in the ordi- 
 nary Manner, it produc’d as much 
 Quickfilver as the richcft Stones of Gu - 
 cncavilica , where it is poffible there may 
 be much Reliques of Plate in the great 
 Heaps of Oar, which hitherto they have 
 refin’d •, and I do not know whether fome 
 curious Perion has not already by Acci- 
 dent 
 
( ) 
 
 dent found it fo, when that that is already 
 laid fhall not be held fufficient to dear this 
 Point, it will bear no Weight in the 
 Proof, that Metals are not compounded 
 of Quickfilver and Brimftone, to fay that 
 thefe two Ingredients are not met withal 
 in the Mines ; for as parts of the Compo- 
 fition of Metals they have already loft 
 their proper Forms, and are paft into the 
 Nature of that Oar, which is made up of 
 them. But the moft skillful Artifts in- 
 quiring further into the Secrets of Nature, 
 do again extrad from all forts of Metal 
 Quickfilver, whereof they fay they are 
 moft vifibly and palpably compounded. I 
 forbear to fet down the Manner to avoid 
 the occafioning of Chymical Experiments, 
 which do more harm than good. In like 
 Manner common Quickfilver is turn’d in- 
 to fine Plate, . which is a certain Proof of 
 the Pofiibility and Truth of what has 
 been faid before, whereof there are fo 
 many Eye-witnefles in thefe Provinces 9 
 that it were aMadnefs to disbelieve them 
 all. 
 
 C H A P, 
 
(*4 ) 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 Of the efficient and formal Caufes of Metals. 
 
 B ESIDES the Heavens, which as 
 an univerfal Caufe, concurs in the 
 Generation of all Things, and particular- 
 ly of Metal ; fome other nearer efficient 
 Caufe is necefifary, that having receiv’d 
 Virtue from the Planets, may work upon 
 the proper Matter ©f Metals * for the 
 Qualities of the Elements alone are not 
 fufficient, nor are appointed to produce 
 any compounded Body, but only fo far 
 as they are govern’d by fome other parti- 
 cular Virtue, as is manifeflly feen in liv- 
 ing Creatures. This next Caufe then, or 
 mineral Virtue, or Spirit, lerves itfelf on 
 the elementary Qualities, efpecially of 
 Heat and Cold, for it’s Inftruments in the 
 Generation of Metals ; the Heat mixeth 
 uniformly the earthly and humid Parts 
 together, which is the Matter whereof 
 Metals are made, then it boils, digefts, 
 and thickens that Matter, and the Cold 
 coagulates and hardens it, and fo it hath, 
 put on the Form of Metal, and is more 
 or lefs perfect, according to the prefent 
 JDifpofition of that Matter when the mi- 
 neral Spirit began to actuate it: Hereup- 
 on 
 
( 6.5 ) 
 
 upon is grounded the Opinion of Cattif* 
 thenes , Albert us Magnus , and others, who 
 fay, there is only one kind of perfect 
 Metal, which is Gold ; and that all the 
 others we call fo, are but the Principles 
 or Gradations unto that : Wherefore 
 they conceive it feafible by Art to reduce 
 them to Perfection, and turn them into 
 Gold : They that oppofe the Poffibility 
 thereof, place the Force of their Argu- 
 ments in proving that the feveral Species 
 of Metals arecompleat in themfelves, and 
 diftindt one from another ; and therefore 
 that a Tranfition of one to the other is 
 impoffible. But their Reafon convinceth 
 not, and if it were granted, the Inference 
 would not follow *, for we fee the like 
 Tranfmutations, and far from difficult, 
 perform’d both by Art and Nature. By 
 Art Wafps and Beetles are made of the 
 Dung of Animals *, and of the Plant Alva - 
 ca rightly placed and order’d Scorpions 
 are produc’d. Alfo it is notorioufly 
 known, that in Scotland Pieces of old 
 Ships and of Fruit that fall into the Sea 
 turn into living Ducks ; and there is no 
 Comparifon between the Diftance of 
 things inanimate to Animals, and that of 
 one Metal to another. Befides many o- 
 ther Things that may be brought to this 
 Purpofe. It hath already been faid, how 
 fome Waters turn Stick in Stones : And 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 In the Nourifhmentof all living Creatures* 
 there is a continual Tranfmutation : and 
 in Metals it is evidenc’d by the Stone Li- 
 ps, or Copperas, blue or green, which, 
 as hath been laid, being diffolv’d in Wa- 
 ter without any other Artifice turns Lead, 
 Tin or Iron into fine Copper. And al- 
 though it may be argued with Probabi-* 
 lity, that Metals do differ fpecifically 
 one from another, becaufe the Definition 
 of Metal agrees to every one of them, 
 as well as unto Gold, for the particular 
 Properties that agree to every one of 
 them. And for that we fee them per- 
 manent, and without any Sign, as if 
 Nature did endeavour to change one 
 Form into another, or heighten them 
 into Gold ; and for many other Reafons 
 that might be alledg’d. Neverthelefs, 
 the contrary Opinion of Callifthenes and 
 Albertus are very probable ; for it is not 
 concluding, that two Things differ in 
 fpecie, becaufe the fame Definition agrees 
 to both of them, unlefs the eflential 
 Difference that conftitutes them fuch, 
 be fhewn therein. And if one affert a 
 Man and a Lion to be Animals, he 
 cannot truly infer from thence, that they 
 are of different Species. For fo Peter 
 and Paul would be diftinft in Specie, if 
 it were not for the Differences of rational 
 and irrational, that limit the Genius. 
 
 So, 
 
( « 7 ) 
 
 So, although the Definition of Metal do 
 . agree unto Lead and Silver, as well as 
 unto Gold, one cannot thence rightly in- 
 fer that they differ fpecifically, becaufe 
 the one may be perfect as Gold, and the 
 other imperfeCt as all the other within 
 the fame Species of Metal, as a Child is 
 in refpeCt of a Man, though both have 
 the fame effential Definition; the Child 
 may grow up to Perfection, and become 
 a Man. The different Properties of Me- 
 tals alfo does fomething {tumble one, fince 
 they are Accidents that accompany it’s 
 Imperfection, and fo are capable of being 
 removed; and the Permanency which 
 they feem to have in their kind, proceed 
 firft either from the flownefs of their 
 Growth, or Melioration, which comes 
 not within the Compafs of human Obser- 
 vation ; when even the Growth of Ve- 
 getables is inobfervable, though after a 
 great fpace of time we can difcern them 
 to be increafed. Or y fecondly r from the 
 Covetoufnefs of Mankind, that digs the 
 Metals out of the Bowels of the Earth be- 
 fore they be come to their full Maturity* 
 
 CHAP, 
 
( ) 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 Divers Accidents of Metals . 
 
 B EING diffolved and returning to 
 be coagulated again, is one of the 
 Accidents of Metals, though it be found 
 in other things alfo, yet in Metals it is 
 sifter a particular Manner ; the Caufe of 
 this Accident is the Moiflure, whereof it 
 is compofed, the which as it is hardened 
 by Cold, fo it is diffolved by the Heat of 
 the Fire, without more or lefs Difficulty, 
 according to the different Proportion, and 
 llrong or weak Mixture of it with the 
 earthy Subfiance. Tin has very much 
 Moiflure in it, and is very ill mingled 
 with earthy Subfiance, and from this laft 
 comes the Crackling and Noife it makes 
 between the Teeth, when one bites it; 
 and from both proceeds it’s Facility to 
 melt fooner than all other Metals ; next 
 unto it Lead melts eafier than Silver, 
 which hath need of a flronger Fire, be- 
 caufe it’s earthy and humid Parts are well 
 and flrongly compared together, not- 
 withflanding the humid doth a little ex- 
 ceed. Gold becaufe it hath a better 
 Mixture of it’s Parts, and Sulphur fixed 
 in it’s Compofition, or it’s earthy Part, 
 
( ^9 ) 
 
 the pureft that can be is harder to melt 
 than Silver. Iron, becaufe the earthy 
 Part is grofs and impure, and exceeds the 
 humid, and their Mixture alfo being ill 
 and unequal, burns and confumes as of- 
 ten as it is heated in the Fire, and will 
 not melt of itfelf without extraordinary 
 great Violence. Copper fome do think 
 to be a Metal very near of kin to Iron, 
 and although it has a greater Proportion 
 of Moifture in it, it is flower in melting, 
 becaufe it’s earthy Part is very adult and 
 burnp. 
 
 The Luftre and Shining of all Metals 
 proceeds, as it were, from one and the 
 lame Caufe ; for when their Superficies is 
 made plain, and fmooth, or burnifti’d, 
 look how much the more pure and fubtile 
 the watry Part of the Metal is, fo much 
 the more Luftre they give. Gold excels 
 all other Metals in this, as well as in 
 many other Particulars, and next it Sil- 
 ver. White is a Colour common to di- 
 vers Metals, although Silver be molt per- 
 fectly fo, I cannot imagine with what 
 fort of Eyes Cardanus look’d when it ap- 
 pear’d to him to be black ; the Caufe of 
 Whitenefs is the Moifture being termina- 
 ted by the dry, fine, and well digefted 
 earthly Part * for if it were dirty, im- 
 pure, combuft, it would produce a black- 
 er and duskier Colour, and according to 
 
the Difference of the earthly Parts of Men- 
 tals herein, fo do their Colour come out 
 more or lefs white. Gold is yellow, or 
 red, which Colour proceeds from the 
 Tin&ure thattheSulphur very much boil’d 
 gives unto the Quickfilver, ormoift Parts, 
 whereof it is compoled ; as we fee in all 
 forts of Leigh, Urine, and other Liquors 
 boil’d upon ftrong Fires, that they have 
 a red Colour infufed from the earthly 
 Subftance, wherewith they are mingled ; 
 the Colour of Copper proceeds from the 
 fame Principle, although by Reafon of 
 the Impurity, Combuftion, and ill Mix- 
 ture of it’s Parts, it does not arrive at 
 the Colour of Gold, much lefs to it’s 
 Richnefs and other noble Qualities. 
 
 Generally Metals neither tafte norfmell 
 Weil, becaufe of their lulphurous Quali- 
 ty, although Gold fmells and tafbes well, 
 by reafon of it’s moft excellent Tempera- 
 ture or at the leaf!:, it neither fmells nor 
 taftes ill, from the fame Caufe alfo Me- 
 tals foil and black ones Hands, or any o- 
 ther thing that touches them •, but herein 
 alfo Gold muft be excepted, becaufe of 
 it’s incomparable Purity *, another Pro- 
 priety of Metals is to be dudtile or malle- 
 able, which proceeds from the Moifture 
 being inclofed in the dry Parts, which 
 upon the ftrokeofthe Hammer gives way, 
 and changes Place, from whence pro- 
 ceeds 
 
( 7i ) 
 
 ceeds the enlarging of the Metal. Of all 
 Metals, Gold is the moft duCtile, next 
 Silver, then fine Copper, Iron, Tin, 
 Lead, &c. Metals burn and are confum’d 
 in the Fire from unCtuous Sulphur or 
 .earthly Parts *, as -on the contrary, thole 
 Parts they have of Moifture or Quick- 
 filver does defend and preferve them from 
 it *, the Parts of Gold and Silver are fo 
 pure and ftrongly compacted together, fo 
 that the earthly Part defends the moift 
 from evaporating, and the Moifture pro- 
 tects the earthly Parts from burning, and 
 Fo they endure the Fire without any Di- 
 minution or Corruption. Other Metals 
 wafte in the Fire for want of Perfection 
 .and CompaCtednefs of the Parts whereof 
 they are compofed. 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 Of the Number of Metals, and the Places 
 wherein they are engendered . 
 
 HOSE who are vainly curious at- 
 
 i tributing unto Stars and Planets 
 particular Influence and Dominion over 
 all fublunary Things, do appropriate the 
 Production of precious Stones to the Su- 
 penntendency of the fixed Stars, who 
 i'fccm to imitate them, not only in their 
 
 Brightnefs 
 
( 72 ) 
 
 Brightnefs and Luftre wherewith they 
 twinckle, but principally in the Purity 
 and Permanency of their Subfiance •, as 
 on the contray, for the Inftability and 
 Alteration of Form in Metals, being 
 fometimes liquid, and other times coagu- 
 lated, they afiign them to the particular 
 Government of the Planets, ( who from 
 the Variety of their Motions are called 
 wandring Stars ) moreover they afTign 
 the Numbers, Names, and Colours of 
 the Planets unto Metals, calling Gold the 
 Sun-, Silver, the Moon-, Copper, Venus ; 
 Iron, Mars -, Lead, Saturn -, Quick- 
 filver, Mercury *, although becaufe this 
 Jaft is not a Metal, fome inftead thereof 
 call Eleflrum Mercury (which is a na- 
 tural Mixture of Gold and Silver) which 
 was heretofore efleem’d the mod precious 
 of all Metals -, but this Subordination and 
 Application is uncertain, as is alfo the 
 Conceit that Metals are but feven in 
 Number \ whereas it is very probable, 
 that in the Bowels of the Earth, there be 
 more Sorts than we yet know. A few 
 Years ago, in the Mountains of Sudnos 
 in Bohemia , was found a Metal which 
 they call Bijjamuto , which is a Metal be- 
 tween Tin and Lead, and yet diflindt 
 from them both there arebutfew know 
 of it, and it is very poflible more Metals 
 alfo may have efcaped the Notice of the 
 
 Generality, 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 Generality. And if one fhoiild admit 
 the Subordination and Refemblance be- 
 tween Metals and the Planets, modern 
 Experience, by excellent Telefeopes has 
 difcovercd, that they are more than feven. 
 Gallileo de G allies has written a Treatife 
 of the Satelites of Jupiter , where one may 
 find curious Obfervations of the Number 
 and Motion of thofe new Planets. 
 
 Reafon and Experience teacheth, that 
 the molt proper Place for the Generation 
 of Metals is the Veins of the Earth, which 
 do run thro 3 it’s great Body as princi- 
 pal Receptacles of it’s permanent Humi- 
 dity, proportionable to it’s Solidity and 
 Hardnefs, as Blood is in the Bodies of 
 Animals. The Rocks between which 
 Metals commonly are engender’d, which 
 they call Caxas^ (or Cheft) ferve for 
 Conduits, where fubterraneal and celeftial 
 Heat meet and unite the one with the o- 
 ther, ftirringup Vapours, mingling and 
 purifying the Matter of which Metals are 
 made, without giving it time to divert 
 and diffipate into feveral places ; that 
 which communicates between Chelt and 
 Cheft is called a Vein ; and that which 
 time has moulder’d off, or the Rains 
 carried away from the Matter that fills 
 it, is found fcatter’d up and down the 
 Mountains broken, and tumbled away 
 by themfelves, which are the Stones of 
 E Metal * 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 Metai ; thofe that underftand this Art 
 beft, believe that the Gold that is found 
 in the Sands of Rivers, has the like Origi- 
 nal, that it is not ingender’d in the Sand, 
 as divers will have it, but in Veins of the 
 Earth carried from thence by Rains unto 
 theBrooks * yet be this how it will, (altho* 
 what has been faid, is the more natural 
 and ordinary way of proceeding) often- 
 times it happens, that in fome parts or 
 bits of Land, they find that which is cal- 
 led Creoderos , where Metals are engen- 
 der’d out of Veins by the Difpofition of 
 Matter, and the powerfulnefs of the mi- 
 neral Virtue which there meet together. 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 The Manner how to find out the Veins ofi 
 Metals . 
 
 T H E Veins of Metals are difcovered 
 either by Art or Fortune. Violent 
 Currents of Water wafh off the firft Coat of 
 the Earth, and fo leave theVeins of Metal 
 naked to the Eye, if there be any there * 
 great Storms of Wind many times tear 
 Trees up by theRoots, and with them fome 
 Stones of the Metal of that Place : The 
 fame Effeft alfo hath the falling of pieces 
 ©f Cliffs and Rocks, caus’d either by 
 
 Thunder- 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 Thunder-time, or great Rains, and wafh 
 away the Cement that fhould hold them 
 together. Oftentimes rich Veins of Me- 
 tal have been difcovered by the Plough, 
 whereof Jufiin makes mention of Gold 
 that was found in Spain. In my own 
 Ground, a quarter of a League from 
 Chuqiiifcaca , ploughing upon the Ridge 
 of a Hill, I difcovered a Vein of Sorocbes 9 
 and ’tis very probable that the like hap- 
 pens in divers other Parts of thefe Provin- 
 ces, which are fo fertile of Minerals ; 
 and that the Ignorance of the Ploughmen 
 hath been the Caufe they have not pro- 
 fited by the Riches which Fortune hath 
 put into their Hands. Lucretio in elegant 
 Verfes hath fet forth, how that theMoun- 
 tains being fet on Fire, either on Pur- 
 pofe, or by Chance, difcovered the Na- 
 ture of Metals unto the World, melting 
 them, and making them to run out of the 
 Rocks wherein they lay concealed, into 
 the Form that now they are known. By 
 the fame Accident alfo have been, and 
 may be hereafter, becaufe of difcovering 
 the Veins of Metals, which the Hiftories 
 of Spain confirm unto us in the Burning 
 of the "Pyrenean Mountains \ and much 
 leffer Violences than thofe have been fuf- 
 ficient, when Fortune has had a Mind to 
 diftribute Riches to her Favourites. A 
 Man riding a Horleback over the Coun- 
 E 2 try 
 
( 70 
 
 try in Gofolaria , by the Soil broken with 
 the fmall Force of his Horfe’s Feet, dis- 
 covered a very rich Mine, as Agricola te- 
 ports. An Indian Servant of mine pulling 
 up by the Roots fome Bufhes of Tola, a 
 Sort of Wood, ordinary in this Country, 
 together with the Roots, pluck’d up a 
 rich Stone of Metal, which was Silver, 
 white, and in Duftj this was half a 
 League from the Mines of St Chriftopher 
 de Achacalle ; he brought me home the 
 Stone, whereby I difcovered the Vein of 
 Silver, and fhewed the place unto the 
 Officers of the Mine. 
 
 When the rich Mines of 1funo 9 in the 
 Province of Carangas , began to be famous 
 for the Riches, abundance of Soldiers 
 flock’d down thither : Some of them be- 
 ing very poor, fortuning to have no ffiare 
 ii) the Veins that were already difcovered, 
 and conferring together how they fliould 
 get a living, faith one of them ; if God 
 pleale, here we ffiall get enough to main- 
 tain us; together with which he kick’d 
 the Ground with his Foot, and under that 
 fmall deal of Earth, which fo flight a 
 blow could turn up, they faw a piece of 
 white Silver, which they took up, with 
 incredible Admiration, and therewith 
 fupplied their prefent Occafions, without 
 any farther labour, (the Piece of Silver 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 being about the bignefs of Botijuela *) and 
 afterwards the Vein of Silver in Duft* 
 which was found underneath that Stone 
 (or rather pure Silver) yielded much rich- 
 es both to them and others. That Mine 
 is called the poor Man’s Mine, and is Che 
 Richeft of all that were in that famous 
 Farm. The Mine of St Cbriftopher 9 s in 
 the Lipes , was alfo found out by chance *, 
 amongft the Rocks thereof, breed great 
 ftore of Bifcaches , a little Creature about 
 the bignefs of a Hare, (Game very Ordi- 
 nary, and of good Nourifhment in thefe 
 Parts) one of thefe being kill’d with a 
 Gun, the Man that fhot her, found her 
 dead upon a rich ( farellon ) of Silver, and 
 called this Vein, Neuftra Senior a de la 
 Candelaria difcubredora , afterwards they 
 regifter*d divers other Mines , which 
 made that Farm fo defervedly famous* 
 as that Abundance of Spaniards reforted 
 thither; and it is reckon’d the third belt 
 Mine in all the Indies^ namely, next un- 
 to Botofi and Oruro . 
 
 * Botijuela is a Spanilh Fejfel, wiieb 
 
 contains about a Gallon f 
 
 E 3 CHAR 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 JBefides thofe Veins of Metals which do dif- 
 cover tbemfelves, or are found by chance , 
 as has been faid before , there be others 
 procured by the art and indujiry of Man. 
 
 T H E Colour of the fuperficial 
 Earth is no frnall Indication, whe- 
 ther or no there be Metal in the Bowels 
 of it, as has been faid in the firft Chapter 
 of this Treatife, and hath been found by 
 experience in all the Mines hitherto dis- 
 covered in this Kingdom, the fuperficial 
 Earth of them being of a far different Af- 
 pe<£t from other Earth, even to the fight 
 of thofe who are very little vers’d in this 
 Matter. There is no certain infallible 
 Rule by the Colour of the Earth, to judge 
 v/hat kind of Metal it contains, that be- 
 ing only to be known by experience and 
 Cnlaying, as we fee in Gold, which is 
 ordinarily found in red Earth, or yellow 
 tindlur’d with red, like unto a hard 
 burnt Brick ; neverthelefs in the Mines 
 of Oruro and Chianta the Veins of it are 
 found in white Chalk : in thefe Provinces 
 the Earth of other Minerals moft com- 
 monly is reddifh, of the colour of Wheat, 
 after the Pattern of Potofi , (their firft Co- 
 py) of the fame Colour is that of Seapi 9 
 
 Pcrira> 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 Verba , and others in the Lipes , which 
 produce Copper, and although fome^ 
 times the Earth is found of grey, green, 
 and red Colour •> yet generally it is of 
 the Colour of Wheat. The very fame 
 kind of Earth likewife is found in the 
 Lead Mines ; fo that the true knowledge 
 of what Species the Metal is, depends up* 
 on the enfaying of the Oar. 
 
 The Veins of Metal are found fome* 
 times above Ground in great Stones r 
 which being broken, the Miner difcerns 
 that they contain Metal and enfays them, 
 and finks his Mine there, if he find en- 
 couragement, and that it is like to be pro- 
 fitable, but if the Veins be covered, they* 
 hunt them out after this manner, viz* 
 taking in their Hands a fort of Mattock, 
 which hath a fteel Point at one end to dig 
 withal, andabluntHead at the other break, 
 Stones withal, they go to the Hollows of 
 theMountains, where the downfall of Rains ' 
 defcends, or to fome other part of the 
 Skirts of the Mountains, and there ob- 
 ferve what Stones they meet withal, and 
 break in pieces thofe that feem to have 
 any Metal in them ; whereof they find 
 many times both midling fort of Stones, 
 and fmall ones alfo of Metal. Then they 
 confider the Situation of that Place, and 
 whence thofe Stones can tumble, which 
 ofnecellity muftbe from higher Ground, 
 E 4 and 
 
( 8 ° ) 
 
 and follow thetradl of thefe Stones up the 
 Mill, as long as they can find any of them, 
 and when they are gotten fo high, that 
 no more of thefe Stones appear, it is a 
 certain Sign, that there or thereabouts 
 begins the Vein, there then they break 
 Earth, and run their Mines according as 
 the Veins of Metal which they meet with- 
 al guide them. 
 
 The gufhing out of Water in the Sides 
 of the Hills are very good Signs, that the 
 Veins of Metal are near, becaufe com- 
 monly they are the Conduit-pipes of 
 them. 
 
 When Trees, Bufhes, and other Plants, 
 and Weeds of the fame Sort, are found to 
 run along in Rows, as if they were plan- 
 ted by a Line, oftentimes it proves, that 
 a Vein of Metal runs uuderneath them. 
 
 The Plants that grow over the Veins of 
 Metals, are not of fo great a Growth, 
 nor fo ftrong a Colour, as others of that 
 kind, becaufe the Exhalations which 
 come from the Veins, blaft them and 
 hinder their Perfection j for the fame Rea- 
 fon alfo, the morning Dew, and the 
 Snow which falls, is gone fooner from 
 thofe Mountains that have Mines, than 
 from thofe that have none, and from the 
 Place where the Veins run, fooner than 
 from other Places of the fame Mountain. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( 8 * ) 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 Of the fever al Sorts of Veins ; and how to 
 find them out . 
 
 A lthough the Word Vein be a gene- 
 ral Term given to all Places, that 
 contain Metal, yet in the particular 
 Speech of the Miners, it is applied to 
 thofe Veins that run down perpendicular- 
 ly, or (loping ; (which is more ufual) 
 from the Horizon, and thofe Veins which 
 run parallel in the Ground, without any 
 confiderable Deprefiion from the Hori- 
 zon, they call Manto , (a Word which 
 fignifies a Cloak or Blanket, which the 
 Women in Spain throw over their Heads 
 and Shoulders.) Both thefe Sorts of Veins 
 are ufually found, altho* mod commonly 
 the Mines that are wrought, are thofe 
 that run downwards ; thofe Veins which 
 are found feldomeft of all, are thofe the 
 Spaniards call Sombreros (which fignifies in 
 their Language a Hat) or a heaped Mine, 
 which is where Metal is found in a lump 
 together, in what Quantity or Diftance 
 foever, from which no Veins run, either 
 downward or fideways. 
 
 In what vertical Plains the Veins of 
 Metals generally run, has been curioufly 
 obferved by all the Miners of Europe , as 
 being certain Signs of the greater or lef- 
 fer Riches, and abundance of the Mine* 
 E 5 e- 
 
efteeming principally thofe Veins, that 
 run from Eaft to Weft, or thereabouts, 
 in the northern Part of the Mountain ; 
 next they efteemed thofe beft fin the 
 northern Part of the Mountain) that run 
 North and South, or thereabouts. They 
 gave the third Place of Eftimation to 
 thofe Veins which run North and 
 South, on the eaftern fide of the Moun- 
 tains, and valued thofe little or no- 
 thing at all which ran the contrary Way. 
 Whether the Veins do run Eaft or Weft, 
 is eafily feen by the Grain of the Stones in 
 the joining of the Stones together, or 
 Chefts that contain the Metal, becaufe 
 that runs towards the Part where the Mine 
 ends ; a thing eafy to be obferved in the 
 pieces of the Rocks that are found above 
 the Superficies of the Earth ; and thofe 
 within the Bowels of it, run after the 
 fame Manner ; other fuch like Signs they 
 give ns, whereby to know thofe Brooks 
 or Rivers that have Gold in them, but 
 with lefs reafon, becaufe the Gold is not 
 engendered there, but in the Veins of the 
 Mountains, from whence time and the 
 downfalls of Water have worn it away; 
 but without difparaging the Judgment of 
 thofe that have thought as abovefaid, and 
 have writteu to that purpofe, I fay, that 
 for the moft part in the Mines of Europe , 
 and of thefe Parts, experience hath fhew- 
 
 ed 
 
( 83 3 
 
 ed the contrary ; which I forefee they will 
 anfwer, by faying, that oftentimes an 
 Effe6t is produced contrary to Expectation* 
 and that thefe have their Exceptions as 
 well as other Rules ; neverthelefs if it be 
 lawful for us in this other World, and op-* 
 pofite Climate, to make new Rules from 
 the Experiences in the rich Mines' of Pots* 
 fi y I (hall affign the firft Place of Riches, 
 and abundance to thofe Veins that run 
 North and South upon the northern Side 
 of the Mountain ; which Point of the 
 Compafs, with a very little Declination 
 weftward, the four principal Mines of 
 this Mountain obferve j namely, the 
 Mine of Centeno , which was th sDefculri* 
 dora •, the rich Kline-, the Tin Mine; 
 and the Mine of Mendieta ; the fecond 
 Place I fhould give to them 'that run 
 North and South, on the South Side of 
 the Hills. A Point of the Compafs pa- 
 rallel, whereunto run the bed Veins of the 9 
 fecond famous Mine of this Kingdom, 
 which hath it 5 s Name from the famous 
 City of St Philip of Auftria called Oruro , 
 which in the richnefs of it’s Veins, abun- 
 dance of Metals, Depth of it*s Mines, 
 and great Concourfe of Inhabitants, de- 
 fervedly ftands in competition with the 
 Grandeur of Potofi. 
 
 In divers Places very rich Veins of Me* 
 talrun Eaft and Weft, and alfo to feveral 
 
 other 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 other Points of the Compafs fo that the 
 beft Rule to go by in this Matter, is to 
 follow the Metal as it difcovers itfelf, 
 and as long as one gains thereby, or at 
 leaft faves himfelf, it is worth the follow- 
 ing on, becaufe being fure to lofe nothing 
 one hath, the Vein will lead him to great 
 Riches ; and if the Vein be large, and 
 have any Signs of Gold or Silver in it, 
 altho’ for the prefent it doth not quit the 
 coft, Men go on couragioufly in the 
 working of it, having fuch certain hopes 
 of gaining great Profit; this hath been 
 confirmed by experience in all the Mines * 
 of thefe Provinces ; a frefh Inftance where- 
 of we have in the rich Mine of Phocaia , 
 (where for the inftrudlion and encourage- 
 ment of Miners) after having followed it’s 
 Veins forty Years, with very little Profits 
 at length they have met with the extrava- 
 gant Riches, which all of us in this King- 
 dom have heard and feen. If the Veins of 
 Metal be very fmall, they muff be ex- 
 tream rich to be worth the following : If 
 the Metal be found clinging about Stones, 
 and likewife in the hollows of thofe 
 Stones, it is found in Grains like Corns of 
 Gunpowder, (being that which the Spani- 
 ards cz\\ Plomo) and is Silver unrefin’d; 
 altho’ thefe Grains be but few, and the 
 reft of the Metal have no Silver in it, ne- 
 verthelefs it is a Sign of the Riches of the 
 
 Vein,! 
 
( 85 ) 
 
 Vein, when it meets with more Moifture^ 
 As it fell out in that great Mine of St 
 Chrifiopher of the Lipes , which they call 
 the poor Man’s Treafure, if as they dig 
 forwards they meet with more abundance 
 of thofe Grains, de Plomo> it is a Sign 
 that the rich Oar is very near. To find 
 Cbrifocola , Herrumbre , Oropimente or San- 
 daraca in the Mines 5 or Iron-coulour’d 
 Earth, next to the Stones that inclofe the 
 Oar, or Fullers Earth between thofe 
 Stones, are very good Tokens of the 
 Richnefs of the Mine \ it is no ill Sign al- 
 fo to meet with dry Earth, if itbe yellow, 
 red, black, or any other extraordinary 
 Colour, and it is the better when there 
 is fome Shew of Lead mix’d with it ; 
 Chalky Ground is very promifing, and 
 Agricola doth judge it a good Sign to 
 meet with Sand in the Mines, if it be ex- 
 ceeding fine, and very ill to meet with 
 Earth full of little Flints, if it hold long, 
 without changing into another Soil. 
 
 C Kf A P. XXVI. 
 
 Of Metals in particular * and firjl of Gold . 
 
 T HE moft perfect of all inanimate 
 Bodies, and the moft efteem’d of all 
 Metals is Gold, univerfally known, and 
 
 co 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 coveted by all People. It is made of the 
 fame Matter, and in the fame Manner as 
 other Metals are, (as hath been already 
 fhewn) but of Parts fo pure and perfedt, 
 and fo well compared together by De- 
 codtion, that it 9 s Subftance is, as it were 
 incorruptible, being out of the Power of 
 any of the Elements to be corrupted or 
 deftroy’d. The Fire that confumes all 
 other Metals, only makes Gold more 
 pure*, the Air and Water diminifh not 
 it’s Luftre, nor can Earth make it ruft or 
 wafte. By the Noblenefs of it’s Sub- 
 ftance, it hath molt defervedly obtained 
 that Eftimation, which the World gives 
 it, and the natural Virtue which flows 
 from the admirable Equality of iPs Com- 
 pofition, is the belt Medicine againft Me- 
 lancholy, and the greatefl Cordials to the 
 Hearts of Men, which perpetually run 
 after this avaritious Metal, as the Needle 
 doth after the Loadftone. The Qualities 
 that it hath in common with other Me- 
 tals, have been briefly touched Chap. 21. 
 The Virtue afcribed to Aurum potabile to 
 preferve a Body perpetually in Youthful- 
 nefs, without Infirmity ; together with 
 the Receipt of making thereof, depends 
 upon the Credit of thofe Authors, who 
 have written concerning the fame. Many 
 Writers upon this Subjedt relate theNames 
 of divers Countries, Mountains and Ri- 
 vers, 
 
C 87 ) 
 
 vers, famous for the Production of Gold, 
 but my Defign is not to be over large ; 
 and therefore I not only forbear to trans- 
 late what other Men have written, but al- 
 fo to treat of the greated Part of theMines 
 in this new World, even thofe of divers 
 of the Provinces of Peru ; and only ap- 
 ply myfelf to give your Lordfhip a fhort 
 Account of thofe which are found in the 
 Royal Audiencia de los Charcas^ the Go- 
 vernment whereof is worthily committed, 
 unto the Care of your Lordfhip. Every 
 Body knows theName of Carabaya for be- 
 ing a Country dored with Plenty of the 
 fined Gold, as fine as the fined of Arabia , 
 it is of the ley of 23 Corrats, and three 
 Grains *, and although an incredible Quan- 
 tity thereof hath been, and daily is gotten 
 thence, yet now they begin to work again 
 afrefh, and follow the Veins of it under 
 Ground, whereas hitherto they have only 
 gather’d up the Fragments of it, which 
 were wafh’d off by the Rains. The Pro- 
 vince of Larecaja borders upon Carabaya , 
 and abounds with Gold, which in divers 
 Brooks of that Country is found in Form 
 and Colour like unto fmall Shot, which 
 being melted, and it’s outward Coat and 
 Mixture confum’d away, becomes of a red 
 Colour ; he that found this fird did not 
 know it to be Gold, until a Friend of his, 
 unto whom I discover’d it, told him fo. 
 
 Next 
 
( *8 ) 
 
 Next unto Larecaja joins Tipuane , 8 
 Country inhabited by favage Indians, with. 
 whom we have had Wars, and made In- 
 curfions upon them, ever fince the Build- 
 ing of the City de la Paz , where I was 
 prelent, and is now above twenty Years 
 ago ; this Country is fo largely reported 
 to be rich in Gold, that it were incredible, 
 unlefs fo many Eye-witneffes had affirm’d 
 it ^ the proper Name of this City de la 
 Paz, is Chaquiapu , which we corruptly 
 call Chuquiabo , which in the Language of 
 this Country is as much to fay Cbacra , or 
 the Farm of Gold ; it hath abundance of 
 Mines in it, that were wrought in the 
 Time of the Ingas , it is a foil generally 
 known to be fertile of Metals ; and in the 
 time of the Rains the Boys often pick up 
 Goldin the Streets inlmall Bits, like the 
 Kernels of Apples, efpecially in that Street 
 that goes down to the River, by the Con- 
 vent of the Pr edic adores and in theValley 
 of Coroico , and others, which they call an - 
 des de Chuquiabo , in the Cliffs of the Rocks 
 is found of a grey Colour on the Outfide, 
 like unto Lead. The Silver Mines of 
 the famous Town of St. Philip of Aujlria , 
 Oruro , are encompafs’d round about with 
 other Hills, in which there are many 
 rich Veins of pure Gold, which have 
 been wrought heretofore •, atprefent there 
 is only one wrought* and that by my Per- 
 
 fuafion 
 
( 8 9 ) 
 
 iuafion ; upon the Ridge of that Moun- 
 tain, that runs over the Silver-mills, 
 which they call de las Sepolturas , the Oar 
 whereof being well ground to Powder, 
 and enfay’d by Quickfilver, yields a con- 
 fiderable Profit, they have not follow’d a- 
 ny more of the Veins, for want of In- 
 duftry, their common Trade being get- 
 ting of Silver, or which I rather believe, 
 becaule in thofe Veins they have already 
 wrought, they have not gotten fo much 
 Gold as they expedted ; altho’ that ought 
 not to difcourage them, becaufe it may 
 reafonably be fuppofed, that where fo 
 many Veins of Gold are, there be fome 
 of them very rich, if they have the good 
 Fortune to light upon them, the fame 
 which daily Experience hath fhew’d in 
 the Mines of Silver. 
 
 TheBoundsof Chayanta are full ofVeins 
 of Gold, and have fome ancient Mines 
 already funk in them, and in the Sands 
 of it’s River, which is call’d, el Rio gan* 
 de , Kernels of Gold are found, and in the 
 River of 'Tinquepaya , feven Leagues from 
 this City of Potofi , they have found Gold 
 alfo. 
 
 In the Confines of Paccha y Chuquichuiy 
 and PreJlo y near unto the City of Chuqui- 
 faca , there be many Caves, out of which 
 they have gotten fome fhew of Gold ; the 
 like alfo is found from the River Sopachy , 
 
 up 
 
( 9 ° ) 
 
 bp unto the Chiriguanes , where it is held 
 for certain, that there be rich Mines of 
 Gold, which the Indians have this Year 
 offer'd to difcover unto us. 
 
 The River of St. Juan , which runs at 
 the Bottom of the Province of the Chi - 
 quas , where it joins with the Caleb aguies^ 
 is very full of Gold ; in Efmoraca , and 
 Chillo , of the fame Province the ancient 
 Gold Mines are yet to be feen *, there is 
 one Hill of the Lipes> which is near unto 
 Colcha , which hath Gold in it ; there is 
 a Mine alfo three Leagues from this 
 Town, in a Place they call Abitanis , 
 which in the Lipean Language is as much 
 as to fay, the Mine of Gold. I believe 
 for a certain alfo, that there is Gold in the 
 Province of Atacama, becaufe of the abun- 
 dance of fine Lapis Lazuli , which is found 
 there, in which Gold is engendred. 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. 
 
 Of Silver , and the Mines thereof \ 
 
 S ILVER is the moft perfefb of all 
 except Gold, whereunto it comes fo 
 near, as to want nothing but the Colour , 
 and therefore thofe that mod of all op- 
 pofe the Opinion of the'Tranfmutation of 
 Metals one into another, do yet hold it 
 
 pofiible 
 
( 9 1 ) 
 
 poffible to turn Silver into Gold, becaufe 
 the Colour only being wanting, the Fire, 
 and artificial Concoftions can iupply that, 
 whereof there be many Experiments; from 
 the good mixture and finenefs of it’s Parts, 
 proceeds it 5 s enduring the Fire with very 
 little wade, as alfo it’s being tough and 
 malleable, and endures the drawing out 
 into very thin Leaves, and fmall Wire ; 
 if it were not a common Trade to do it, 
 it would not be believed to be poffible, 
 that an Ounce of Silver fhould be drawn 
 out into 1400 Yards of Wire; and it is yet 
 more admirable, that all that fhall be 
 made gilt Wire, with only fix grains of 
 Gold ; fo that although Silver can be ex- 
 tended to Admiration, yet Gold is a hun- 
 dred times more dudile than it ; one 
 Dunce of Gold differing it felf to be beaten 
 to that thinnefs, as to overfpread ten 
 Hanegadas of Land. 
 
 In the Mines oftentimes Silver is found 
 white and pure, and like, as it were. 
 Wire woven one within the other between 
 !:he Rocks, which the Spaniards call Me* 
 \al Machacada , fuch as is found in that 
 Mine they call the Turks, in the Province 
 )f Carangas ; in Cboquepina a Mine of the 
 Ingas, two Leagues from Berenguela , in 
 he Province of the Pacages ; in the Moun- 
 :ain that I difcover’d and regiftred, half 
 1 league from the Works of St. Chrijlo - 
 
 pher 
 
( 9 Z ) 
 
 pher, in the Province of the Lipes ; in YactS 
 of the Province of the Charcas ; which 
 in the middle of it’s Oar yields rich Cop- j 
 per, there was found laft Year a Stone 
 coated over with white Silver, the Me- 
 tal contain’d within, being yellow, like 
 unto the Colour of a Lion. And in the 
 rich Mine of Chocaya , in the Province of 
 the Chicbas , in the richefl Stones of that 
 Oar they have found much Silver, like 
 Wire woven together as aforefaid, and in 
 all the Mines of thefe Provinces at fome 
 time or other Stones have been found 
 made into Silver Wire as aforefaid ; and 
 Wedges of pure Silver; but no other 
 Mine hath produced the like unto that of 
 St Chrijlopher' s in Omro , which befides 
 the Leaves of fine Silver, that are found 
 between the Stones, produceth line Silver 
 alfo in fmall Duff, mingled with the 
 Mould or Earth, that is dug there, which 
 may be gotten together without any more 
 Trouble than Walking, in the fame man- 
 ner as they ufe the Gold that is found in 
 Sand ; but moll commonly in all Mines 
 Silver is found incorporated with the 
 Stones, and is fcarce difcernable, nor to- 
 be known, but by Men of good Experi- 
 ence. In the Circuit of the Charcas , there 
 is fuch Abundance of Silver Mines, that 
 they alone, if there were no other in the 
 World, were fufficient to fill it with 
 
 Riches -, f 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 Riches ; in the middle of this Jurifdicftion 
 {lands the wonderful Mountain of Potoft > 
 of whofe Treafure all Nations of the 
 World have liberally participated ; the 
 Excellencies whereof, and of that impe- 
 rial City, whereunto it hath given the 
 Name, do fo much furmount any other 
 thing in the old, or new World, that 
 they very well deferve a particularHiftory 
 to eternize their Fame; it is furrounded for 
 the moil part, with Abundance of rich 
 Mines, that of Porco is the famous Mine 
 of the Ingas ., and the firft, out of which 
 the Spaniards dug any Silver ; thofe very 
 ancient Mines of Andacava are admired by 
 all Miners for their yaft Depth, and ad- 
 mirable Contrivance, and Plenty of Oar, 
 which is fuch as promifes continual Em- 
 ployment, for half the Indians of this 
 Kingdom. Thofe of Tabacco Nunio are 
 near unto a Lake called by the fame 
 Name, have fuch wonderful and coilly 
 Engines appertaining to them, that the 
 building of them hath confumed a great 
 Part of the Treafure of this Kingdom ; 
 that Lake contains fo much Water, as 
 would make a running River all the Year 
 long, with which there goes Day and 
 Night a hundred Silver-mills, which grind 
 the Oar that is gotten from it*s own 
 Banks. Within the Bounds of Po,Ji al- 
 fo are the Mines of Guurigmre , Cari ry. 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 Piquiza, la vera Cruz , Sipoto , and manj 
 others. 
 
 In the Lipes there be Farms of Mines of 
 greater Fame, namely that of St I fab el pf 
 new Potofi , the Name whereof doth not 
 more predicate it’s Beauty, than doth the 
 Amenity of the Mountain and the rich- 
 nefs of the Oar that is found there. Let 
 Trinidad is a wonderful rich Mine, there 
 be alfo the Mines of Efmoruco , el Bonete , 
 which they call fo, becaufe the Top of 
 the Mountain is like a Bonnet. 
 
 Xanquegua , the new World, which 
 hath been difcovered in my Time, yields 
 very rich Veins of Metal ; namely ; A- 
 bilcha , todos Santos , OJloque , St Chrifto- 
 val, de Achocalia , Sabalcha , Montes cla- 
 ras, and many others. In the Chic as are 
 St Vincent, Tat aft , Monferrat, Efmoraca , 
 Tafia, Sbina, Chorolque, old and new 
 Choc ay a, which to the Shame and Aflo- 
 nifhment of the Miners, hath been now 
 laft of all found out, and is one of the 
 richeft in all Peru . 
 
 C H A P, 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 CHAP. XXVI IT. 
 
 Containing the Dlfcourfe of the laft Chapter * 
 touching the Mims of Silver. 
 
 T H E Province of the Choreas , be- 
 Tides the rich Mountain of Potoji , 
 which alone was fufficient to eternize it’s 
 Name, and the other Mines aforefaid, 
 that are round about it, hath alfo the 
 Mines of Taco, or the Mountain of Mi- 
 racles, thofe of St Pedro de buenavifta , and 
 thofe of Make cot a ; there is Silver Oar al- 
 fo found near unto Cay ant a, and alfo in 
 Paccha , and Tarabuco , not far from Chu - 
 quifaca , and in other Places. Within the 
 Jurifdi&ion of Panna , (land the three 
 great Mountains; St Chrifioval , Pie de 
 Gallo , and la Flamenca , which together 
 make up thofe Mines, which they call 
 Oruro , that famous Town, which is 
 near unto them. In the neighbourhood 
 of Oruro alio are the Mines of Avicaya , 
 Berenguela , Cicacica , la Hoy a, y Colloquiri, 
 which although it is a Mine of Tin, yet 
 now and then in following the Veins 
 thereof they meet with rich Oar of Sil- 
 ver, which they call Lipta ; in the Pro- 
 vince of the Pacages is the rich Mine of 
 Berenguela , with the Mountains of Santa, 
 
 Juana ? 
 
( 9 6 ) 
 
 Juana , Tampaya, and others, and in the 
 Bounds of the City de la Paz , there are 
 the Mines of Choquepina , Paco cava , 7/Vj- 
 guanaco , and divers others •, briefly all 
 thefe Provinces are nothing but a continu- 
 ed Mine, and notwithftanding fo great a 
 Number of Mines are opened at this Day, 
 yet it is certain, that there be many more 
 known unto the Indians , which they craf- 
 tily have concealed from us till this pre- 
 fen t. 
 
 There is a certain Tradition in this 
 Country of an incomparable rich Mine 
 belonging to the Village of Chaqui , four 
 Leagues from this Imperial City, altho* 
 at prefent the Sight of it is not known, 
 divers Indians having kill’d themfelves 
 out of Obftinacy, that they might not 
 difcover it. 
 
 There goes no lefs Fame of the Mine, 
 which they call de los Encomenderos in the 
 Province of the Lipes, which Name was 
 given it divers Years ago by the Indians , 
 who getting a Qjantity of Silver out of 
 that Mine, gave that Treafure unto two 
 Spaniards , whom they difpatch’d away 
 into Spain, as their Agents, they were 
 two Brothers of the Sirname of 'Tapias , 
 whereupon this rich Province was incor- 
 porated into the Crown. Whilft I was 
 Curate of this Place, I fpoke with many 
 of the Country People, that told me, they 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 5 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 d 
 
 had helped to load, and conduct that 
 Riches unto thePort of Arica, where it was 
 put on Ship-board ; it is agreed on all 
 Hands, that the abovefaid Report is true, 
 altho’ at prefent that Mine remains undijf- 
 cover’d, which ldo not at all wonder at, 
 when I confider, that all the* Mines that 
 are wrought in that Province have been 
 found out, and firft taken Say of, by the 
 Spaniards themfelves, without lighting up- 
 on any one ancient Work of the Indians ; 
 whereof no doubt there were formerly ve- 
 ry rich ones, as appears by the choice 
 Stones, and Pieces of Oar, which Indians 
 have given me, without dilcovering whence 
 they had them ; and the very Streets of 
 the Town, when I was Curate there, were 
 full of fmall Grains of rich Oar, which I 
 fwept up, and made Profit of it. In the 
 Plains of Julloma in the Pacages , the In- 
 dians anciently have wrought Mines, which 
 at this Day remain undifcover’d. It hath 
 been a vail Quantity of fmall Pieces of 
 Plate, which they call Corriente , that the 
 Spaniards have bought up, among this 
 People, and I myfelf have gotten there 
 fome of the Remainders of that Sort of 
 Silver *, thefe Grounds, together with the 
 Colour and Beauty of the Mountains , 
 makes one rationally to fufpedl that Coun- 
 try to be fertile of rich Metal ; but it is 
 more certain, that there are rich Mines in 
 
 F the 
 
C pS ) 
 
 the Parifh of Caquingora^ in the fame Pro- 
 vince of the Pacages , becaufe I have feen 
 Stones of rich Oar pick’d out of the Pav- 
 ing of their Streets, and theWalls of their 
 Houfes. The fame Report goes alfo of 
 divers of the neighbouring Towns and a 
 conftant Fame, that in the Time of the 
 Ingas , each of the Parties had their parti- 
 cular Mines.. 
 
 C FI A P. XXIX. 
 
 Of Copper , and the Mines thereof. 
 
 H E fulphureous Parts do predomi- 
 
 JL nate in the Compofition of Copper* 
 and from their diftemper’d Heat riles the 
 fiery Colour of that Metal ; when it is 
 melted it fmells more of Brimftone than 
 any other Metal ; and becaufe it is ever- 
 burnt in it’s Compofition, therefore it is 
 lefs fubjedt to Injury or Corruption, by the 
 Air, Earth, or Water ; as for the fame 
 Reafon, Coals are not fubjedt to fuch like 
 Accidents ; they ufe Copper about En- 
 gines of long Duration, becaufe it never 
 rufteth as Steel and Iron doth ; and for 
 the fame Reafon it was highly efleemM 
 by the Ancients, who made the Bolts and 
 Nails of their Ships, their Weapons, and 
 other Inftruments, of this Metal, which j 
 
 alfo 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 alfo we found in Ufe amosg the Natives 
 of this Kingdom. 
 
 Copper is engendred in mineral Stones 
 of divers Colours, although ever the molt 
 predominant Colour is blue or green *, it 
 is engendred in the fame Place with Gold 
 and Silver, and oftentimes in following a 
 Vein of pure Copper they have met with 
 a Ned: of the fined: Gold •, but it is more 
 familiar to have it’s Veins change into 
 Silver; and thofe Veins of Copper that 
 make any Shew above Ground, common- 
 ly prove very rich as they are dug deeper, 
 and confequently are more moiff. The 
 Mine of OJloquee in the Lipes , was at the 
 Top in a manner all Copper ; and every 
 Spade’s Depth as they dug downwards the 
 Oar grew more rich in Silver, until it 
 came to be pure Silver, at the Bottom of 
 the Mine, where the Water increafing to 
 a Man’s Height hindred them from pro- 
 fecuting it’s farther Riches ; what hath 
 been faid is a Token of the Affinity be- 
 tween the Matter of Compofition of thefe 
 Metals, and that the greater or ledfer Pu- 
 rification is the only Difference between 
 them. « 
 
 There are many Mines of Copper in 
 thefe Provinces, and the Bottoms of all 
 the Mines whereout Silver hath been ta- 
 ken, have been found to yield great Store 
 of it, which for the Colour Sake they call 
 F 2 Negrillo 
 
( ICO ) 
 
 Negrillo ; fo that how many Mines there 
 are, fo many Silver Mines there be , 
 whence Copper may be gotten alfo ♦, be* 
 Tides there be Mines of Copper only from 
 the very Superficies of the Earth down- 
 wards *, there be divers Ridges of Hills 
 about Pet oft , that are full of thefe Kind of 
 Mines, although mod; of the Copper that 
 is wrought in this Town has been gotten 
 from the Farm de las Laganillas , and now 
 is gotten from that of Yura. In the Lipes 
 there is a very great old Work of Copper 
 in the Mountain Scapi , two Leagues from 
 Chuyca *, there is another alfo, wherein 
 there is Copper Metal like Wire woven. 
 A League from Sabalcha , in the Highway 
 to Colcha ; and nctwithftanding it is found 
 in many Parts of this Province, yet no 
 where is the Suecefs To profperous as in 
 t)ie Mountain of Pereira and it’s Confines, 
 until you come to Guatacondo . 
 
 In Atacama there are very large Veins 
 of Copper, fome of them run unto the 
 Sea-fide, and tumble down the Cliffs in 
 great maffy Lumps of this Metal. In 
 the Chicas , where the Soil is not taken 
 up with Silver, it is full of Copper Mines; 
 and not far from Efmoraca , they get of 
 this Metal, woven like Wire, or Mach a - 
 cado , as the Spaniards call it, there is alfo 
 very rich Copper in Oroncota , and in the 
 Top of the Mountains of Yarabuco many 
 
 Pits 
 
( * 01 ) 
 
 Pits and Copper Works of the Ancienti 
 are to be feen. It is found likewife in all 
 the reft of the Chare as , particularly in the 
 Confines of Mach a , Cop oat a , and C bay an* 
 ta ; and in Pari a near unto Orufo . And 
 in the Province of Carangas , the Hills ad- 
 joining to the Silver Mine, callM el Turco^ 
 are full of Copper. Near unto Curagmrn 
 de palages , there be many ancient Works 
 of the Indians , whence they get Copper 
 Machacado , or like Wire woven together. 
 In the Highway between Potofi and Julio* 
 tna , one fees many Veins of Copper. Al- 
 fo a League from Callapa , in the Rorid 
 that goes from the City Paz, one ctoftes 
 feme large Veins of it. Not far from Ca- 
 quingora there be divers (lately Works, 
 and much Copper Machacado upon a white 
 Chalk, Within lefs than half a League 
 from Julkma , near unto the Highway that 
 goes to Calacoto , in Hills of dry Clay, I 
 found Branches or fmall Veins of pure 
 Copper, like unto fine Gold, whereof I 
 got a great Quantity of that which was 
 fcattered about above Ground. There is 
 of this Metal Machacado in ChGquepina , 
 near unto Berenguela de Pacages \ and fe- 
 veral W orks and V irgin V eins in the High- 
 way from Calacoto to Potofi^ half aLeague 
 before one arrives there, and in like Man- 
 ner over all the reft of this Province. 
 
 F 3 
 
 CHAP, 
 
( IQ 2 ) 
 
 € II A P. XXX. 
 
 Of Iron. 
 
 I RON, although it is not the moft 
 precious, yet it is the moft neceffary of 
 all Metals for the Ufe of Man ; notwith- 
 fiard.ng it may be difputed, whether the 
 good or hurt it hath done in the World, 
 be the greater *, Nature hath made it fo 
 hard, by putting over much earthy Parts 
 or fixed Sulphur in it’s Composition, al- 
 though it hath alfo a fufficient Portion of 
 Humidity, or Quickfilver, fo that in the 
 firft Place it will not melt without a very 
 violent Heat; and, in the next Place, be- 
 ing {truck with a Hammer, it doth not 
 break into fmall Pieces, as hard Stones 
 do, but receives Impreftion, thereby dila- 
 ting and extending itfelf. It is a Metal 
 cold, and dry, but more porous than o- 
 thers, and therefore weighs lefs, and is 
 more fubjecft to ruft, and decay in the wet : 
 efpeciallyin Salt Water, which penetrates 
 moft ; it waftes in the Fire alfo every 
 time it is heated, falling off in Scales, be- 
 caufe it wants Humidity proportionable to 
 ids Earthinefs. If when it is red hot, it 
 be quenched in cold Water, it will be- 
 come very brittle, becaufe the heat being 
 pent up in the Heart of the Iron by the 
 ambient Cold, doth there prey upon, and 
 
 con fume 
 
( I0 3 ) 
 
 Confume part of the natural Moifture, 
 which made it tough and malleable. 
 Thefe fertile Provinces of all other Sorts 
 of Metal are not deftitute of this alfo, 
 though none employ their Labours to feek 
 it out, or work it-, becaufe here is fuch a-^ 
 bundance of Silver, about which they are 
 induftri'ous to greater Profit, and in truck 
 for it, they buy abundance of that excel- 
 lent Iron of Bifcay, this proceeding is not 
 to be wondred at, when one confiders the 
 abundance of Copperas, Allum, Quick- 
 filver, and other Minerals, which is year- 
 ly brought from Spain to thefe Indies , 
 where the fame Commodities may be got- 
 ten in fuch abundance, as were fufficient 
 to fupply, not only the Occafions of thefe. 
 Kingdoms, but alfo of Spain it’s felf, and 
 of all the World befide. 
 
 In the Valley of Oroncota , there is a 
 great deal of Iron, the People of the 
 Country being encouraged by the looks of 
 the Place, and fair appearance of the Oar 
 they found, followed a large V ein of Me- 
 tal, hoping that it was Silver, and 
 brought me fome of the Oar to enfay it* 
 the which I did, and undeceived them, 
 by telling them it was Iron *, the fame has 
 happened in other Veins at the rife of the 
 River Plicomayo , five Leagues from the 
 City de la Plata , although that Oar has 
 F 4 fome 
 
( 1 ) 
 
 fome Copper mingled with it, and is not 
 pure Iron as that of Oroncota is. 
 
 Adjoining to the Ancoraymes , a Town 
 in the Province of Omafuyo , there be no- 
 ble Mines wrought formerly by the Ingas, 
 of fo great Fame, that it is very w r ell 
 worth one’s making a Journey purpofely 
 to fee them •, the Oar is very heavy, and 
 hard, and of a dark Colour, although 
 there be found together with it much Oar, 
 that fparkles and fhines. If you rub pie- 
 ces of the dark Oar together, it produceth 
 a very fine blood Colour, like that of the 
 Hemmotites , to whofe Species undoubted- 
 ly it belongs, and is full of Iron, as I 
 have proved by many Enfays ; it is pofii- 
 ble the Indians followed Veins of richer 
 Metal in thefe Mines, which hitherto we 
 have not met withal, or becaufe Iron was 
 not in ufe among them ; they dug thisOar 
 fit it to their Guns, Stone-baws, and 
 Slings; it being not inferior in weight or 
 hardnefs to our Iron Bullets, they did 
 make ufe of thefe in their Wars, and cal- 
 led them Higuayes . 
 
 In Oruro, hard by the Silver Mine of 
 Santa Brigida, in the hollow between the 
 Hills, there is a Vein of Iron, of which, 
 out of Curiofity, and for Example only, 
 when I was in that Town, I faw feveral 
 Iron Keys made *, the Metal which they 
 call Chumbri ? taken out of the Mine of 
 
 Choc ay a 
 
( 10 5 ) 
 
 Choc ay a in this Mountain of Potofe r and o- 
 thers, have much Iron in them *, and 
 doubdefs there is abundance of Iron in 
 many other Parts of this Kingdom, al- 
 though the People do not regard, or feek 
 after it, nor do the Miners in their ordi- 
 nary Enfays meddle with any thing, but 
 the Knowledge of Gold and Silver. 
 
 CHAP. XXXI. 
 
 Of Lead . 
 
 L EAD is a very common, and know:' 
 
 Metal, there is no Silver Mine, 
 where much of it is not found •, and there 
 is fcarcely any other Oar but has fome mix- 
 ture of Lead in it, Nature^ hath qualified 
 it with abundance of Humidity, that it 
 might be ferviceable in the melting of 
 Gold and Silver, which, without the 
 help of Lead burn away and confume in 
 the Fire, before they arrive to their full 
 Perfe&ion. By reafon of it’s Moifture, 
 it doth eafily evaporate in the Fire, and 
 melts ; carrying along with it whatfoever 
 is not Gold, or Silver, and therefore it’s 
 felf is very eafy to be refin’d it is likefl 
 unto Gold in Weight, and unto Silver in 
 Colour, being melted together with them. 
 It not only facilitates the founding, and 
 refines them, but feparates the Copper 
 F 5 from 
 
C I0 <5 ) 
 
 From them, as fhall hereafter in it*s place 
 be fbewn •, and therefore is the moft necef- 
 fary of all Things in the Art of founding 
 of Metals, the whitenefs of it fhews the 
 abundance of Humidity, or impure 
 Quickfilver, whereof it is compofed* 
 which the Chymifts in feveral Manner of 
 Waysdoeafily feperate from it. 
 
 It neither diminiffieth nor corrupts by 
 the Air or Water like Iron, but rather in- 
 creafeth Doth in W eight and Quantity, as 
 very good Authors do affirm, notwith- 
 ftanding others da fay, that Sheets of 
 l^ead expofed to the Weather do wafte 
 and con Fume, and have been the ruin of 
 many goodly Buildings covered therewith. 
 It is rarely found mingled with Gold, mod: 
 commonly with Silver, and fometimes 
 with Copper. The Oar in which Lead is 
 engender’d, is called in this Country So- 
 rocheSy whfch for the moll part is black, 
 full of Holes, and fparkling; other pie- 
 ces of it they call Muertos , becaufe it doth 
 not fparkle, nor is fpungy ? others they 
 call Oques , which in the Language of this 
 Country is as much as to fay Fraylefcos , 
 becaufe it is of the Colour of a Friers 
 Coat ; there hath been no Silver Mine 
 difcovered in all this Kingdom, wherein 
 fome Lead has not been found, in which 
 regard it is needlefs to enumerate the fe- 
 veral Places that afford this Metal, al- 
 though 
 
( I°7 ) 
 
 though mod of the Mines in the Cbicas 
 have abounded therein, and therefore it is 
 that they have founded fo much Metal in 
 this Province. The Mines of Andacava 
 are Lead and Silver alfo, but becaufe that 
 Oar is not proper to be feparated by 
 Quickfilver, and there is not Wood enough 
 near the Place to melt it down ; this Mine, 
 which in my Opinion is one.of the richeft 
 in all the Indies i continues hitherto yield- 
 ing but a very frnall Profit. Below the 
 Mountain of PrAoft , as far as it’s Shadow 
 reacheth in that Part called Deftbicos , 
 there be many Veins of Lead, with a very 
 little Silver mix’d in it ; the like alfo 
 there is within the Shadow of St C trifle*- 
 valde Oruro . 
 
 CHAP. XXXII. 
 
 Of Tin . 
 
 T H E Metal which they call Tin, di- 
 vers call white Lead j particularly 
 they give it this Name, that leperate Sil- 
 ver and Copper, in which Operation 
 fome Tin comes forth, as fhall be laid in 
 it’s Place, which is known by it’s white- 
 nefs, and the Noife it makes when one ei- 
 ther bites or breaks it. Common Tin is 
 begotten from the fame Principles as Lend 
 
( icB ) 
 
 is, but more fine and better purified, 
 whence it becomes more hard and white, 
 although from the ill mixture of it’s Sub- 
 fiance it is faid to flutter, and make a 
 Noife as hath been faid * it is the Poifon 
 of Metals, and makes them brittle that 
 have the lead Mixture of it, becaufe it’s 
 Incorporation with any Metal alters the 
 equal Temper it had before, and impedes 
 it’s Dudlibility *, only it doth not infedl 
 Lead, in this Manner, becaufe the ex- 
 ceeding great foftnefs and humidity there- 
 of penetrates into, and incorporates with 
 the ill-tempered Subfiance of the Tin, fo 
 that united together, they remain dudlile 
 and malleable. The Veins of Tin are 
 not found in every Place that one hath a 
 mind to and yet thefe rich Provinces 
 are not wholly deflitute of them , there is 
 a Farm of Mines named de C.olquiri , not 
 far from the Hills of St Philip de Auftri a 
 de Oruro , which is famous for the abun- 
 dance and excellency of the Tin, that 
 hath been gotten there, wherewith 'they 
 have furnifhed all this Kingdom, in fol- 
 lowing the Veins whereof, as hath been 
 advertifed before, many times they have 
 met with rich Parcels of Silver. Near 
 unto Chavanta in the Charcas , there is a- 
 nother Mine, whence a few Years ago 
 they got . bindance of Tin. Not far 
 from CharabucQi a Village on the Bank of 
 
( I0 9 ) 
 
 the great Lake, Chucuito , on that fide to- 
 wards the Province of Larecaja there be 
 Tin Mines alfo, which the Indians wrought 
 in the time of the Ingas , and the Spaniards 
 continue to work flill ; thofe Veins are 
 very large, and rich in Tin, and many 
 times amongft it they meet with Silver *, 
 but all of it is mixed with Copper, which 
 makes the Tin more Tightly and durable; 
 the Fame of thefe rich Veins gave me the 
 Curiofity to fee them, being defirous that 
 no Mines of thefe Provinces fhould ef- 
 cape my Knowledge and Experience. In 
 the Mountain of Pie de Gallo de Oruro , 
 there is much Tin, altho’ few know it, 
 and all negleft the working of it becaufe 
 they find not the Silver there which they 
 expert. One of the four principal Veins 
 of this famous Mountain of Potofi , is cal- 
 led the Tin Mine, becaufe of the abun- 
 dance of Tin that was at firft found upon 
 the Superficies of the Earth, and in dig- 
 ging deeper it all turned into Silver. 
 And in the Fields belonging to theParifhof 
 St Bernard, where I officiate, a quarter of a 
 League off, or a little more, there be rich 
 Veins of Tin, which upon my difcovery, 
 yourLordlhip went inPerfon to vifit, where- 
 by, as by other of your noble Proceed- 
 ings, you have given great Encourage- 
 ment to thofe that are induftrious in the 
 working of Mines, which hath fo eminently 
 v increafed 
 
( 110 ) 
 
 increafed the royal Revenue, and the 
 Riches of the People. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIII. 
 
 Of Quickfllver. 
 
 Q Uickfilver is a Mineral very well 
 known, of a liquid Subftance, and 
 fluid like Water ; it is naturally vif- 
 cous,very fubtile, and abounds in Humidity, 
 whence it obtains the Qualities of being 
 very heavy, and fhining bright, and of 
 being very cold, as it is generally thought 
 notwithflanding fome do affirm it to be 
 very hot, by reafon of the fubtile Effects 
 and penetrating Quality that it hath, 
 whereby it runs thro’, not only Fleffi, but 
 the hardefl: Bones *, and alfo becaufe fubli- 
 mated Mercury (which flibftantially is no- 
 thing elfe but Quickfllver, though alter- 
 by the Mixture of thofe Minerals 
 wherewith it is boiled and fubli mated and 
 in like Manner is reducible again to 
 Quickfllver) is notorioufly known to be 
 Poifon, and hot in the firfl: Degree but 
 leaving the Determination of this to thofe 
 that deal in Simples, it is certain, that 
 there is fo great an affinity between the 
 Nature of Quickfllver, and that of other 
 Metals, that though it be known of them, 
 
 yet 
 
( HI ) 
 
 yet it is convertible into any of them, be- 
 caufe as moft Philofophers hold, it is one 
 of the Principles of which they all are 
 compounded, and moft eafily unites and 
 incorporates with them ; and moreover 
 it’s very fubftance is tranfmutable into 
 true Metal, enduring the Trials of the 
 Fire and Hammer, as well as thofe that 
 come out of the Mine. Raymundus 
 tea,cheth feveral Ways how to turn it in- 
 to Gold or Silver, in a Book called La 
 Lifquificion Eliana , there is taught a ve- 
 ry perfetft Way how to make Lead of 
 Quickfilver ; and if one fhould fufpecft 
 the Credit of Books, in thefe Provinces 
 there be many Eye-witneffes that have 
 Plate by them, which they have refined 
 with their own Hands by a Copel of 
 Quickfilver, cured according to a Receipt 
 given unto them ; the which Experiments 
 take away all Scruple of the PoiTibility of 
 it’s Tranfmutation. There was very lit- 
 tle ufe or confumption of Quickfilver be- 
 fore the beginning of this new Silver Age 
 in the World ; then they only wafted it in 
 Mercury fublimate, Ctfiabrio , or Vermil- 
 lion; and the Powders made thereof cal- 
 led Precipitate , which are alfo called in 
 Spain the Powders of Juanes de Vigo , which 
 have been ufed to fuch mifchievous Purpo- 
 fes, that the World was faid to have too 
 much of them, although in bulk and 
 
 Quantity 
 
( 112 ) 
 
 Quantity then they had but little, but 
 fince it hath been ufed to colled the Sil- 
 ver together out of Oar, which is ground 
 fmall, (an Invention which the Ancients 
 had fcarcely arrived to, and pradifed it 
 but very little, it is incredible, how great 
 a quantity is confumed by the Founders 
 of Metals of this Kingdom : For if the 
 abundance of Silver that hath gone out of 
 this Kingdom hath filled the World with 
 Riches and Admiration ; by it may be ef- 
 timated the Confumption and lofsof Quick~ 
 filver, which after a molt extravagant Ex- 
 pence thereof at firfi, being now by good 
 Experience regulated within terms of Mo- 
 deration, is found to be equal in weight 
 to the Silver extraded *, and very felacm 
 that the wafte is fo little. They began to 
 regilter the Qjickfilver that came to Potoji 
 upon the King’s Account, in the Year 
 1574 *, and from that time till 1640, there 
 had been received of it upwards of 204,600 
 Quintails, befides a vafi: quantity irregu- 
 larly brought in upon other Accounts *, to 
 fupply the excefiive Expence of this Mine- 
 ral, God Almighty provided the famous 
 Mine of Guancabellica , and in thefe Pro- 
 vinces fubjcd to the Charcas , (of whofe 
 Minerals I have defired particularly to in- 
 form your Lordfhip) there can be no want 
 of this Mineral amidft the great Plenty it 
 hath of ail others j there are Quick-filver 
 
 Mines 
 
( ”3 ) 
 
 Mines in Ghallatiri , four Leagues From 
 this Imperial City there be all'o of the 
 fame near unto Guarina , in the Province 
 of Omafuyo , and not far from Moromoro , 
 a Village of the Indians , fix Leagues from 
 the City Chuquifaca ; a few Years ago the 
 Indians brought Stones very rich with 
 Quickfilver, which by the violent Death 
 fas was fufpeCted) of theMan that prefer- 
 red to difeover the Mine, hath remained 
 concealed unto this Prefent. 
 
 C H A P. XXXIV, 
 
 Of artificial Metals and Me tallies . 
 
 A R T alfo produces Metals and Metal- 
 lics, and in their Fabrick aims at, 
 and imitates the Perfections of Nature. 
 From a Mixture of Tin and Copper, is 
 made Brafs for Bells, and for Pieces of 
 Ordnance, and for other Ufes. They 
 put a Pound of Tin from four to eight 
 Pound of Copper, according as the Oc- 
 cafon requires. The Indians underftood 
 this Compofition, and made ufe of it for 
 their Inftruments of Force, and for their 
 Arms, as we do of Steel or tempred Iron, 
 which they knew nothing of. 
 
 Latten is made of fmall pieces of Cop- 
 per put into large Crucibles, covered with 
 
 Pow- 
 
( 1 14 ) 
 
 Powder of J alumina, ( which is a Semi- 
 mineral of a yellow Colour *, there is of 
 it near the Mine called the Turc , in the 
 Province of Carangas and alfo near unto 
 Pitantora in the Charcas) upon the Pow- 
 der of J alumina they ftrew Powder of 
 beaten Glafs to cover it, and keep in the 
 Refpiration, and then they put Fire to it, 
 which alters the Colour of the Copper, 
 and makes an increafe of Metal of eight 
 Pound in the hundred Weight. 
 
 For Looking-glades they make feveral 
 Compofitions, although the belt is of 
 two Parts Silver, and one of Lead. 
 Moreover they make by Art, Cinabrio , 
 Mercury fublimate. Precipitate , Pforico , 
 Efmalte , Efcoria , Diaphryges , Cadmia , 
 Pompholix , Spodos , Flor de Cobre , Suefca- 
 ma, Cardenillo , Virmicular , Stommoma , 
 Herjumbre , Alb ay aide, Sandix , 
 
 Ochra, Greta, Purpurena, and G/#/}. 
 
 Cinabrio is compounded of one part 
 Sulphur, and two Parts Quickfilver, well 
 boiled, and fublimated together in glafs 
 Vials, or in earthen Veflels that are glaz- 
 ed. Mercury fublimate is compounded of 
 half Quickfilver, half Copperas, ground 
 together, extraordinary fine, and fprink- 
 ling a little ftrong Vinegar upon it as it 
 grinds, that it may the better incorpo- 
 rate, then fublimate it in glafs Vials as a- 
 forefaid 3 it is alfo made with Allum, and 
 
 many 
 
( JI 5 ) 
 
 many times they mingle a little Salt with 
 
 it. 
 
 Diffolve Quickfilver in Aqua- forth , then 
 fet it upon a gentle Fire, and let the Hu- 
 midity evaporate, and the Quickfilver 
 will remain hard as a Stone, then grind it 
 very fmall, and fet it again upon the Fire 
 in a Crucible, (orVeffel of Copper, if it 
 can be gotten) and keep flirring the 
 Quickfilver, until it be of a red Colour, 
 and then take it off the Fire for Service, 
 and this is called Precipitate. 
 
 Pforico is made of two Parts of Chakitis y 
 and one of Greta , ground and mingled 
 together with a little ftrong Vinegar ; fet 
 itinaMuckhil for fortyDays together, then 
 take it out, and in a broken piece of a 
 Pot, toaft it over the Fire till it be very 
 red. 
 
 The bed Efmalte is made of Allum, 
 Copperas, and Saltpetre *, it is fufceptible 
 of all Colours, as Glafs is. 
 
 Efcoria is that which worketh out of 
 the Metal when it runs, and fwims upon 
 the top of it like Fat, which we call 
 Drofs. 
 
 That which remains in the bottom of 
 the Furnace, when they melt Copper is 
 called Diaphryges . 
 
 Cadmia (although there be of it natural) 
 is alfo that which flicks to the Walls of 
 the Furnaces, principally wherein Cop- 
 per 
 
( ”<5 ) 
 
 per is melted, of which they call Bodrite , 
 that which is like unto Cob os *, and Sira- 
 cita * that which is like unto Potfheard \ 
 and Placite , that which looks like Bark of 
 Shavings. 
 
 Pompholix is a mealy Subftance, and 
 looks like Wool, as it it flicks to the 
 Walls, but diffolves as foon as one’s Fin- 
 gers touch it. It grows upon the Walls 
 as they melt Metal. They vulgarly call 
 it Atutia . 
 
 Spodo is very little different from the 
 Pompholix , only that it is more impure. It 
 is found upon the Walls where they re- 
 fine Metal. 
 
 Flower of Copper is made by pouring 
 cold Water upon the Plates of Copper, 
 as they come red hot out of the Furnace, 
 which with the Fume, raife up little 
 final 1 Grains, which they fweep off into 
 a little Iron Firefhovel, and fo preferve it. 
 
 La Efcamadel Cobre , is that which falls 
 off from the Metal when it is hammered 
 and beaten, and that which in like Man- 
 ner falls off from Iron is called Stommoma y 
 although this Greek Name rather fignifies 
 Steel. 
 
 Cardenillo is made by flopping Vials of 
 Vinegar with Stopples of Copper, and 
 letting it fland ten or twelve Days before 
 it is ufed. 
 
 If 
 
( ll l ) 
 
 If inftead of Copper aforefaid, they 
 ufe Stopples of Iron, it makes Herrumbre . 
 
 Vermicular is very like to Cardenillo ; 
 take one Part of White- wine Vinegar, 
 and two Parts of (linking Urine, and 
 pour it into a Copper Bafon or Mortar, 
 and (lir it about with a Peftle of the fame, 
 until it grow thick, then put a twenty- 
 fourth Part of Salt and Allum to it, fet 
 it in the Sun, until it coagulate and dry, 
 and it will turn into the Form of little 
 Worms* from whence it derives the 
 Name. 
 
 El Azul (or Blue) is made by covering 
 a Velfel offtrong Vinegar (wherein a lit- 
 tle Almajatre hath been diffolved) with fine 
 Sheets of Quickfilvered Plantada , full of 
 fmall Holes, and putting it into hot 
 Muckhil, and after twenty Days (landing 
 there, rake out the Afchul for u(e. 
 
 If in the former Cafe one puts Lead o- 
 ver the Vipegar, it makes Albayalde. 
 
 Put Albayalde in a Spoon, or Iron Vef- 
 fel, upon kindled Embers, and (lir it 
 until it looks very red, and then it is San* 
 dix. 
 
 Ochra is yellow, it is made of Lead 
 burnt until it come to that Colour. 
 
 Greta is made in the refining of Gold 
 and Silver, whereof hereafter. 
 
 Purpurina is of the Colour of Gold, but 
 of little Endurance, and lads not long. 
 
 . Take 
 
( n8 ) 
 
 Take four or five Parts of Tin, and as 
 muchQuickftlver, one Part of Almojatre , 
 and another of Sulphur, and grind them, 
 mingle them in a glafs Viol, and diftil 
 them, and the Subftance that remains in 
 the Bottom is the Purpurina. 
 
 In the laft Place comes the moft curious | 
 Production of Art, and that is the mak- 
 ing of Glafs. Take two Parts of tranfpa- 
 rent Sand, or Powder of Stones, which 
 diffolve in the Fire ; one Part of Nitre, 
 or Saltpeter, or Salt of Sofa f which they 
 call the Herb of Glafs,) clear and purify it 
 with the Mixture of a little Powder of a 
 Loadftone. 
 
 Another Receipt. Take two Parts of 
 Afhes, and one of the Sandaforefaid, with 
 the Powder of Loadftone, and give it a 
 fitting Heat in the Furnace. 
 
 CHAP. XXXV. 
 
 Of the Colours of all Minerals generally. 
 HAT thofe v/ho want Experience 
 
 JL may the more eafily know the Mi- 
 nerals that come to their Hands, and that 
 by their Eye-fight (the trueft Informer of 
 all the Senfes) they may know what they 
 meet with in the Bottom of Mines, I 
 fhall reduce all Sorts of Minerals into Co- 
 
 loifb , 
 
( ii 9 y 
 
 Jours, as to a Genius moft familiarly 
 known; fome Sorts of Greta , (or Fullers 
 Earth) Allum, Amianto , the Arabick 
 Stone, the Meliti , the Gallatiti, (or the 
 „ Milk Stone) Alablafter, the Diamond, 
 Silver, Quickfilver, Tin, and Marble, 
 are of white Colour; la tierra Pingiti , 
 Jeat, Sort, Melanteria , are black ; of an 
 A Hi Colour are the Eritrian , and the 
 Melian Earth; of Blue is theSaphire, the 
 Ciano , the Turkey Stone, the Lapis La- 
 cuhy and el Cibairo ; of green Colour is 
 the Emerald, the Prafma , the Chrifocola , 
 or Atincar , fome Sort of Greta , and Vi- 
 triol, or Copperas ; of the yellow Colour 
 is Gold, the Ochra , the Chrifopacio , the 
 Chrifolite , and Orpiment ; of red the 
 Ruby, the Granatte , the Balax , the Cor- 
 nelian, the Sandaraca , Corral, Pie dr a , , 
 
 Beijfile , the Hamatite , or Blood-Hone, 
 
 ^Copper, Minio , (or Vermillion) the Zcw- 
 Earth, and Almagre ; of purple Co- 
 lour is the Jacint , and Amatbifi ; of a 
 clear Blue the Cardenillo , and the Arme- 
 nian Stone, or Cibairo are of this Colour *, 
 (and fo the Painters call the Colour which 
 they make of this Hone, a verdured Blue) 
 of a white inclining to a Red is the 
 defiaca ; of a Red that is whitifh, is the 
 Xanto ; between Black and Red is the 
 Batrachiti ; of a Black inclining to Purple 
 is the Alabandico ; of a yellowifh White is 
 ;ihe Topas. There 
 
( 120 ) 
 
 There be Minerals of any one fingle 
 Colour, either Black or White, or mix- 
 ed together, as the Agates. The Apftto 
 hath red Veins difpcrfed upon a black 
 Field, and contrarywife the Nafomonite 
 hath black Veins upon a red Field. The 
 Heliotrope in his fine green Subftance hath 
 Veins of the purefl Blood; and in Saphire, 
 and lapis Lazuli , are feen very refplendent 
 Gold. Two Veins, one White, and the 
 otherRed, run quite through the Subftance 
 pf the Egitilla. 
 
 The Eupatalo is of four Colours, name- 
 ly, Blue, fiery Red, Vermillion, Pip- 
 pin Colour. 
 
 The Orea alfo is wont to be found of as 
 many Colours ; namely. Red, Green, 
 White and Black. 
 
 CHAP. XXXVI. 
 
 Of the Faculties or Virtues of Minerals . 
 
 T SHALL finifh this Treatife with a 
 brief Relation of the medicinal Virtues 
 that are found in Minerals, more than 
 what hath been already mentioned, that 
 thofe that poflefs them may know how to 
 benefit by them when the Occafion ferves. 
 Some Minerals work by their occult eften- 
 tial Properties, (or fpecial Form) others 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 by the Mediation of their elementary Qua- 
 lities, contrary to thofe of the Difeafe. 
 Of the firft Sort fome are oppofite unto 
 Poifon, and others to other Sorts of In- 
 firmities *, and of thofe that refift Poifon 
 fome cure the Plague, as the Emerald, 
 the Lemnian , and the Armenian Earth ; ou- 
 tliers are good againft one Sort of Poifon 
 only, as theSaphire drunk inwardly is a- 
 gainft the biting of Scorpions. Sulphur, 
 Nitre, and Copperas are good againft the 
 venemous Mufhrooms : Salt ufed plaifter- 
 wife, is good againft the biting of Vipers 
 and Scorpions, drunk inwardly is good a- 
 gainft the Poifon of Opium and Toadftools. 
 Of thofe that cure by occult Quality, 
 fome ftop the Blood from pafting to a 
 particular Part of the Body, as the Hema- 
 tite \ others corroborate and fortify the 
 Stomach, when they are hung upon it by 
 help of a String going about the Neck, as 
 doth the true Jafpcr *, others tied to the 
 left Arm reftrain Abortion, as doth the 
 Eagle Stone, which xhzGreeks call ALtites , 
 and if it be bound upon the left Mufcle, 
 it produces the quite contrary EfFedt, as 
 alfo doth the Jafper *, others purge grofs 
 Humours, as doth the Loadftone ; others 
 Melancholy, as the Stone Armenia , or 
 Cibairo\ others provoke to vomit, as 
 doth the aforefaid Armenia , Cbryfocola , 
 Copperas and Precipitate . 
 
 A- 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 lAmongft thofe that work by their ele- 
 mentary Qualities (although generally all 
 Minerals are drying) home heat the Body, 
 asdoAllum, Copperas, Chalchiiis, Miji^ 
 Sori , Melanteria and Car deni llo \ others 
 cool it, as do thtEritrian Earth, Stibium , 
 (or Antimony) Albayalde and Gr. a, or 
 Lithargirio . Others with the fecond 
 Qualities which they poffefs, foftcn Hard- 
 nefs, as doth the Agate* becaufe it parti- 
 cipates fo much of the Betune others con- 
 trary wife will harden foft Parts, as doth 
 the hard Lead and EJlibium : Some open 
 the Pores of the Skin, as Nitre and the 
 Scum thereof : Others fhut the Pores, as 
 doth the Samian Earth, and all other Earth 
 that is flimy and tough. Some diflblve 
 "Warts, and Biles, and Kernels in the 
 Body, as the Pie dr a , Molar , and the 
 Marcafita\ others heal Wounds, as the 
 Chalchitis , the Mift , and Allum : Others 
 corrode the Flefh, as doth the Powder of 
 the Stone Afia , and Copperas, and Car - 
 denillo : Some make the Flefh putrify, as 
 Quick-lime, Orpiment, Sandaraca , and 
 Chryfocola. Mercury lublimate, Orpi- 
 ment, Sandaraca , and Quick-lime are 
 Poifon, becaufe they corrode and putrify 
 the Bowels ; fo alfo is M or ter, Albayalde , 
 and Talco calcined, becaufe obftru&ing 
 the Paflage of the Spirits, they choak one. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
CHAP. XXXVII. 
 
 That no Man ought to be employed to refine 
 Metals , but he that hath been examined 
 and licenfed by Authority . 
 
 H E abundance of Minerals, where- 
 
 with God hath enriched almoft all 
 
 the Provinces of this new World (ferving 
 himfelf thereof as a Medium, to other De- 
 figns of his Divine Providence) hath 
 been fo great, that it is fcarce poflible to 
 be believed. The Mountain and Imperial 
 City of Potoji , having already yielded be- 
 tween four and five hundred Millions of 
 Pieces of Eight, a quantity fufficient to 
 make fuch another Hill of Silver ; it is 
 hard to form a Conception equal unto fo 
 exorbitant a Heap of Riches : But the bet- 
 ter to help our Imagination therein, know 
 that, if the Ground were covered with 
 Pieces of Eight, laid as clofe to one ano- 
 ther, as is poflible, they would take up 
 the Space of fixty Leagues fquare, allow- 
 ing five and twenty Pieces of Eight to a 
 Vare of Spain (a Vare of Spain is thirty- 
 three Englijh Inches) and five thoufand 
 Vares to a Spanijh League. This Glut of 
 Riches, hath been the Reafon why they 
 have not applied the Care that was requi- 
 
 G 2 
 
 fite. 
 
< '24 ) 
 
 fite, to prevent lofs and wafte in the re- 
 fining of Oar, which fpeaking with Mo- 
 deration, hath been the lofs of many Mil- 
 lions, both for want of giving it due Law, 
 the Nature, and Difference whereof they 
 did not underhand, and fo proceeded by 
 Chance and without good Ground ; nei- 
 ther knew they well what quantity of Plate 
 the Oar would yield. And laftly, they 
 deftroyed unneceffarily Abundance of 
 Quickfilver, whereof hath been already 
 confumed in this Imperial City, more 
 than 234600 Quintals; I know not whe- 
 ther this Negleft fpeaks Greatnefs of 
 Mind in the Inhabitants of this Kingdom., 
 that they dcfpife to pick up Crums, which 
 neverthelefs w ? ere fufficient to fatisfy the 
 Hunger of many Kingdoms of the other 
 World; or whether it condemns the 
 Carelefnefs of fo wife and well governed 
 a Commonwealth, that they have not u- 
 fed all poffible Means to put a flop to fo 
 unnectffary a Prodigality. The firft and 
 fundamental Remedy whereof, is in my 
 Opinion, that the Metals be refined by 
 one that underftands the Art, and is au- 
 thorifed thereunto by publick Licence, af- 
 ter ftridt Examination of his Sufficiency, 
 which is required before the Ad miffion un- 
 to divers Callings in the Commonwealth, 
 without comparifon of much lefs Impor- 
 tance than this is. The Mailers of refin- 
 ing 
 
( i*5 ) 
 
 ?ng Works have taken no Care at afi in 
 this Matter, becaufe how negligently fo- 
 ever they refine their own Oar, they lofc 
 nothing, but have all the Silver, either in 
 the Plates, or amongft the Drofs : And 
 that which they refine for others, yield 
 more Profit to thefe Refiners, the worle 
 it is wrought, becaufe more remains with 
 them in the Drofs ; but both thefe are ill 
 Reafons to proceed upon, becaufe the 
 making full Profit of their own, mull' 
 cofl a double Labour, and the ill refining 
 other Mens, redounds to a publick. Pre- 
 judice.. 
 
 CHAP. XXXVIII. 
 
 What Quantities, and what kind of Know* 
 ledge a Refiner ought to have . 
 
 I T is a very great Trull that is put in- 
 to the Refiners, the whole Riches 
 which this moft profperous Country pro- 
 duced!, being put into their Hands with- 
 out Account, or any Obligation of the 
 Quantity they are to return * their Word 
 and Honefty only, without Reply, or 
 Appeal from their Sentence, is the only 
 Security of the Truth, of what the Oar 
 hath yielded ; and it had need be a llrong 
 Security, when the violent Incitation of 
 G 3 private 
 
( ) 
 
 private Intereft is to deceive. He there* 
 fore that liveth continually amongft thefe 
 Occafions, had need be well furnished 
 with the Honour of a Chriftian, left hav- 
 ing his Fingers perpetually kneading in 
 the Pafte, a good deal do not flick unto 
 them ; there ought to be a great deal of 
 Circumfpe&ion in chufing this Officer, for 
 no Mifchief that hinders the refining of 
 Oar, or extravagant Confumption, or lofs 
 of Quickfilver, can occafion fo great Pre- 
 judice as a Refiner of a wicked Confid- 
 ence, 
 
 Neither yet is it alone fufficient, that 
 his Manners be good, if he want the 
 knowledge nccefTary to the Art of Refin- 
 ing. He ought to know all Sorts of Me- 
 tals, their Qualities and Differences, which 
 of them are moft proper for Quickfilver, 
 and which for melting, if there be Con- 
 veniency for it. He fhould know the 
 Difeafes alfo that infedl Metals, and the 
 Way of clearing them ; the Accidents of 
 Quickfilver, and the Ordinary Way of 
 refining in great and in little and in no 
 cafe let him be admitted for a Refiner, 
 that doth not well underftand how to make 
 the Idler Enfay by the Fire, of Oar that 
 is ground to Powder, before the Metal be 
 incorporated together, that fo he may 
 know certainly how much Silver ought to 
 gotten out of that Oar * and he fhould 
 
 never 
 
( 12 7 ) 
 
 never give over making Trials,* until lie. 
 hath obtained it. The want of this one 
 Care has coil this Kingdom abundance of 
 Money, and is of great Prejudice to it, ; 
 even at this Day ; two Experiments where- 
 of I fhall relate, which have palled through 
 my 'Hands, that you may the better efti- 
 mate the Importance of this Advice : A 
 fewYears ago, when I lived in the Province 
 of the Lipes , in a Parifh which they call 
 Xanquegua, a Miner had wrought a Vein, 
 out of which he drew a Quantity of very 
 rich Metal, although he knew it not *, he- 
 en fayed it by Qfickfilver, and found it to 
 contain four or five Pieces of Eight the 
 qj; ntal, and at that Rate reflned ic all by 
 the great \ at length they defer ted the Mine 
 for being of little Profit : Afterwards an 
 Indian carried me to the Place, I found 
 Metal in the Moulds that were drawn out,' 
 and alfo in the Vein which had not been 
 much wrought, I enfayed it by the Fire, 
 and found it to contain 900 Pieces of 
 Eight the Quintal, although by the ordi- 
 nary Way of Quickfilver it yielded but 
 four or five ; I difeovered this Vein to the 
 Magiflrates, calling it by the Name of 
 Nueftra Senora de Begomia *, they built a 
 Mill prefently near it, and abundance of 
 Miners flocked thereupon, and have got- 
 ten thence a great quantity of Silver. 
 
 In the Mountain of Santa Juana, out 
 
 G 4 of 
 
C i * 8 ) 
 
 of the Mine of Eerenguela de Pacages , they 
 got a Metal like unto Soroches , which by 
 the ordinary Enfay with Qjickfilver, ap- 
 peared fcarce to hav-e any Silver at all in 
 it; whereupon the Miners utterly deferted 
 it, ur til a Priefl, a Friend of mine, fent me 
 fome Pieces thereof unto Oruro , which I 
 enfayed, and found them to contain 60 
 Pieces of Eight the Qjintal ; by my ad- 
 vice he dug a great quantity of that Me- 
 tal, being laughed at by the Neighbours 
 whilfb he was at work to fo little purpofe 
 (as they thought) but afterwards much 
 more envied by them for the great Riches 
 he. had gotten. # 
 
 y 
 
 CHAP. XXXIX. 
 
 Of the Knowledge of Metals , and the Diffe- 
 rences there are of them . 
 
 J T is almofl. impoflible to teach thofe that 
 have not been acquainted with Metals, 
 how to know them by the Sight, becaufe 
 there is fo great Diverfity of them ; that 
 there is fcarce any Stone in one Mine that 
 refembles Stones of the fame Metal in a- 
 nother Mine ; no nor oftentimes of the 
 fame Mine itfelf. Nevertheless the Mi- 
 ners reduce thefe Differences unto three 
 general Heads, which the Spaniards call, 
 
 i. Pacos . 
 
{ 129 ) 
 
 I. Pacos . 2 .. Mulatos . And, 3. Negrillos 
 Paco in the general Language of this 
 Country, is as much as to fay of a red Co- 
 lour, and fuch more or lefs are the Stones, 
 which they call Metal Paco , although in 
 Berenguela de Pacages , they call the Green 
 Metals of Copper by the fame Name, 
 which alfo in thefe Provinces they give 
 to Metal of any Colour, in contra-diftinc- 
 tion to Metals, that fhine like Steel or 
 Glafs, and another Sort which they call 
 Negrillos . Mulatos is a Colour between the 
 Pacos and Negrillos ; and in the Mines./ 
 Metal of that Colour is produced in the 
 fame Order it is of a brown Colour, and 
 ordinarily accompanied with fome of the 
 Margagita \ there is lefs of this Metal, 
 than of the two other Sorts. The Negril- 
 los have been difcovered by, and take their 
 Name from their Colour, altho* all black 
 Metals are not comprehended under that 
 Name. La 'Tacana a rich Metal, and u- 
 fually black, although there be of it grey, 
 and afh-coloured, which they call Lipta 1 
 belongs to the Metals Pacos y as alfo doth 
 the Lead (for fo they call the Silver Oar) 
 which oftentimes is Black, Grey, Afh-co- 
 loured, Green, White, and Orange- taw- 
 ny, which they call Suco ; and this laft 
 Year in theMountain of Petofi y there was 
 found of it, of a bright lively Cinnamon 
 Colour, or very fine Vermilion, a Thing 
 G 5 whicn 
 
( * 3 «> ) 
 
 which hath not been feen in any other 
 Mine. The Scroches might conftitutea 
 fourth Order of Metals, but I agree with 
 the Opinion of others, that would have 
 them ranked under the Name of N gril- 
 ios, to which alfo belongs the Rcficler , 
 the richeft Metal that Nature hath pro- 
 duced in the Form of a Stone ; if is fh in- 
 ing and brittle, and the Powder of it 
 beaten finer with any hard thing, is of the 
 Colour of pure Blood, it is very like unto 
 Cinalrio , or that Vermilion which is made 
 of Quick filver and Sulphur, which gives 
 a good hint for the finding out of divers 
 other greater Secrets. Co chico is alfo of 
 the fame Kind a very rich mafify Metal, 
 but neither fo brittle nor fpungy as the 
 Rcficler is, but it is more full of Lead, 
 and is not lb eafily beaten to Powder, nor 
 give fo perfect a blood Colour. 
 
 Sorcches , 'Tacana , Rolvcrilla , Rcficler , 
 Ccchico , and Negrillos , are diftinguifhed 
 one from another, in the Manner follow- 
 
 Soroches are black, or Alb-colour- 
 ed, either fhining, or without any Luftre 
 (which they call dead Oar of Lead) and 
 commonly contains fome Silver. 
 
 The Facana is Silver Oar clofecompac- 
 ted, of a black Colour, without any Alin- 
 ing at all. 
 
 Fdvorilla is fiacam \ not congealed, 
 
 ' ~ ~ 7 nor 
 
( 1 3 1 ) 
 
 nor ftony, but is rich in that Oar they 
 call Pacos , but not fo much in the Negri l* 
 los , by reafon of the Mixture of Copper 
 that it hath. 
 
 The Rcficler and Cocbico is Silver Oar- 
 with that fameVarnifh, which hides iPs 
 own proper Colour, and fhines, whereby 
 it differs from the Idacana. That which 
 predominates in the Negrillos , is Copper* 
 either aftuaJ, or elfe virtual in the Cop- 
 peras, wherewith it abounds ; it always 
 contains Silver more or lefs, and is ufuaL 
 ly accompanied with the Margagita. 
 
 The black Metal which feels like Lead* 
 and is fmooth (which makes as it were 
 Leaves of Trees or Feathers) contains a 
 great deal of Alcohol , or Antimony 
 (which in fome Parts they call Macacote ) 
 and but little Silver. Thofe Negrillos • 
 which have Luftre like polifhed Steel, or 
 Looking-glafs, and are therefore called 
 Efpejado and Acer ado \ are the richer the 
 nearer they approach unto the Roficler and 
 Cocbico . 
 
 CHAP. XL. 
 
 Of the Porting of Oar , and the proper 
 Manner of refining each of them , 
 
 T H E Skill of extrafting all the Sil- 
 ver out of any Oar, begins to be ; 
 
 exercifed 
 
( » 3 * ) 
 
 cxercifed in the picking and forting of the 
 Oar together; the want of Care in forting 
 Oar from Stones, that have no Oar in them, 
 as alfo the Oar of one Sort of Metal from 
 another, hath occafioned much damage ; 
 the leaft Inconvenience hath been in the 
 Ufe of Quickfilver, a quantity whereof is 
 loft together with grinding, and other 
 Charges about that which is no Metal *, the 
 greater Inconvenience hath been, where 
 there was Metal, the failing to get out all 
 the Silver, becaufe they have jumbled to* 
 gether Oar of feveral Sorts, and uled but 
 one Manner of refining, whereas thofe 
 Metals require a different Way of hand- 
 ling and time. To Enfay that Metal by 
 Quickfilver, that requires the Fire, is to 
 deftroy it ; to put that Metal in the Fur- 
 nace, which is not to run, is to endamage 
 the Metal, and to get no Profit at all ; and 
 although the feveral Oars be properly af- 
 flgned, fome to the Quickfilver, and 
 fome to the fire,_yet they have their Diffe- 
 rences of being eafier or harder to be re- 
 fined according as they concur, or differ 
 in the Remedy, that is neceffary to be uf- 
 cd for that Purpofe. The Oar, which 
 they call Pacos , that fhines or fparkles not 
 at all, is proper for Quickfilver. The 
 T 'acana alfo may be refined by Quickfilver, 
 but becaufe it is fo very rich Oar, left it 
 fho>jld not be clean extracted, but part of 
 
( 1 33 ) 
 
 it remain in the Drofs, it is better to melt: 
 it in a Bath of Lead. That Oar which 
 containing Silver in it, yet they call by 
 the Name of Lead Oar if it be over grofs, 
 will neither grind well, nor cleave fail to 
 the Quickfilver, and is bed to be melted 
 together with the 'Tacana . 
 
 The mod proper Way of dealing with 
 the Oar they call Machado , is the Ham- 
 mer ; the Soroches need the Fire, the Ro- 
 ftcler and Cochico are to be melted like the 
 Tacana •, the Negrillos require both Fire 
 and Quickfilver, for they prepare all the 
 Oar of that Kind by the Fire, for the 
 Quickfilver by that Means coliefling the 
 Silver, either burnt, or boiled, as fhall be 
 fhewed hereafter. 
 
 CHAP. XLI. 
 
 How to know the ill Qualities that inf eft the 
 Oar , and how to purge them away, 
 
 O F various and very differentQualities 
 are the Subdances that Nature hath 
 produced in the Veins that contain the 
 Oars of Metals, whether they be Abor- 
 tions, which the Covetoufnefs of Man- 
 kind occafions by tearing the Oar out of 
 the Bowels of the Earth before it’s full 
 time, which otherwiie would come to be 
 
 Metal 
 
( 134 ) 
 
 Metal in Perfection, or whether it be ex- 
 crementitious Superfluities of the Generati- 
 on of all Sorts of Metals ; they be ufually 
 called Semi-Minerals, and are Salts, Al- 
 lum, Copperas, Sulphur, Orpiment, 
 Sandaraca, Antimony, or Alcohol, Brim- 
 ftone, both white and Black, and Mar- 
 gagita. 
 
 Scarce any Oar is gotten that doth not 
 participate ofone or more of thefe ill Com- 
 panions, ail of them being hindrances 'to 
 the extracting Silver out of the Oar, whe- 
 ther it be by the Fire or Qaickfilver ; thofe 
 that partake of Copperas, of which fort 
 are thole they call Copaquiras , are mor- 
 tal Enemies of Quickfiiver, which they 
 confume and feitter, and that ill Conditi- 
 on is heightned, ifSalt be mingled with it, 
 which makes it penetrate more violently, 
 and fuddenly ; the learned Raimundus 
 knew this Antipathy very well, and hath 
 left it difeovered to us in Writing; and 
 thofe that deal in Metals daily have it in 
 their Hands, and yet take no notice? of it ; 
 this is tl>at, which eatsup the Quickfiiver, 
 and diflipates theCaxomes of Metal, and 
 hath occafioned fo great an Expence of 
 Metals, namely. Iron, Lead, Tin, and 
 Lime. Wholoever hath a mind to make 
 Experiment hereof, let him mix a little 
 Quicksilver with Copperas well ground, 
 and Water, an . (hall fee in an lnftant, 
 
 all 
 
( *35 ) 
 
 all the Qjickfilvtr difiolved and loft : 
 efpecially if he put a little Salt to the for- 
 mer Compofition. This will be no won- 
 der to thole that know Mercury to be 
 Quickfilver, and that the great Change 
 in it’s Subftance, is caufed by Copperas 
 and Salt, wherewith it is mingled, and 
 then fublimated in the heat of the Fire y 
 this is the greateft Poifon to the Reflati- 
 on by Qjickfilver y although lometimes 
 it is ufeliil, and ferves like Treacle to 
 thofe Sorts of Oar, which have ufe of it, 
 as fhall be fhewed in it’s Place hereafter. 
 
 This Inconvenience is found out, and 
 remedied, with very much eafe y grind a 
 little Oar, and put fome fair Water to it, 
 heat it, the more the better, ftir it well, 
 and then let it ftand a while, then pour 
 out the clear Water into another Veftel, 
 leaving the Sediment behind undifturbed,- 
 prove it by the Tafte, and you fhall well 
 judge what Mixture it hath by it’s dry or 
 lour Tafte y and whofoever defires an os- 
 cular Demonftration of this, let him fet 
 the aforefaid Water upon a. gentle Fire, 
 fimpering until the Moifture be confum- 
 ed, and he fhall fee with his Eyes y in 
 that which remains at the Bottom, either 
 Allum or Copperas. Bathe the Oar in- 
 the Manner abovefaid, fo often as fhall 
 be necefiary, until the Water, that 
 comes from it be fweet, and without 
 
 Tafte* 
 
( * 3 * ) 
 
 Tafte, or that ftirring it with a bright 
 Piece of Iron, it doth not ftain it with the 
 Colour of Copper, and then that Oar is 
 perfedtly cleanfed and fecure, not to hurt 
 the Quickfilver, when it is put unto it. 
 
 Although Sulphur,- Betune, and An- 
 timony do oftentimes dilcover themfelves 
 unto the Sight, yet a better Way of find- 
 ing them out is by the Smell, which 
 comes from the Oar, when it is well 
 burnt in the Fire ; but for fuller Satisfac- 
 tion herein, they may be difcovered and 
 cleared from the Oar in the Manner fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 Grind the Oar fomewhat grofs, and 
 put it in an earthen Pipkin that is not glaz- 
 ed, that hath a great many final! Holes in 
 the Bottom of it, and flop the Mouth of 
 it clofe, then fit a Veffel of Water round 
 about it, in fuch Manner as they do when 
 they clear the Pine Apples from Quickfil- 
 ver, and put Fire under the fame Bafon 
 of Water, wherein all the Smoak that 
 goes out of thofe little Holes will fettle r 
 and there you fhall fee congealed and 
 fwimming upon the Top of the Water, 
 the Sulphur, Antimony or Betune, each 
 in his proper Form. When the Oar will 
 fmoak no longer, it is a certain fign that 
 it is clear of thofe Impediments, which al- 
 though they be not diredl Enemies to 
 Quickfilver in raw Oar, yet the Varnifh 
 
 which 
 
( 137 ) 
 
 which they give to the Silver, hinders 
 the Quickfilver from laying hold of it, 
 and uniting it together ; and by the Brit- 
 tlenefs and Afperity like Glafs, which 
 thofe Oars have that participate of the 
 Impediments aforefaid, they cut and di- 
 vide the Quickfilver when they areftirred 
 together into fmall white Pins Heads as it 
 were, which the Spaniards call Lis. It is 
 neceffary to burn this Sort of Oar, al- 
 though it be good to melt them firft be- 
 fore they put them into the fierce Fire be- 
 caufc without that Preparation the Silver 
 will all be turned into Drofs. 
 
 The Margagita that is in Oar, difco- 
 vers itfelf but too plainly to the Eye by 
 it’s Weight and fharp glaffy Quality ♦, 
 it divides the Quickfilver into fmall Lis \ 
 when they ftir them together, thofe ill 
 Qualities are taken away by the Fire, if 
 you burn it therein until it’s glois and 
 fhining be gone, it doth moft hurt unto 
 that Oar which they melt, the abundance 
 of Sulphur whereof it is compounded 
 making a great Scum upon the Face of 
 the Liquor, which much ftifleth the Fun- 
 dition. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( > 3 « ) 
 
 CHAP. XLII. 
 
 Of the grinding of the Oars of Metal . 
 
 TH H E grinding of Oar is a Preparati- 
 on abfolutely necelfary for the get- 
 ting out of it the Silver, or Gold that it 
 contains by Quickfilver, and the Fine- 
 nefs of the Meal is a principal Means of 
 fhortening the Work and clear Extracti- 
 on of the Plate ; one Fault amongft many, 
 which the Blockilhriefs of this Country 
 has committed, hath been to make the 
 Meal very grofs, or to leave many Lumps 
 therein •, there needs no great Pains to 
 prove that the Quickfilver attracts or in- 
 corporates with itfelf that Silver which it 
 immediately touches ; fo that the Metal 
 which is in the middle of any Lump re- 
 mains in the fame Condition it came out 
 of the Mine, and has more or lefs lofs in 
 it, according to the Richnefs of the origi- 
 nal Oar, and according to the Richnefs 
 or Coarfenefs of the Meal. I have made 
 divers Trials of grinding thofe Lumps o- 
 ver again, and find that in them remains, 
 when leaft, the fixth Part of what is in 
 the Oar when it is firft taken out of the 
 Mine, which is very confiderable in a 
 whole Years Work, and incredible in 
 
 the 
 
( *39 ) 
 
 the great Quantity of Metals that have 
 been already gotten. Agricola after hav- 
 ing taught the Way of grinding and fift- 
 ing of Metals, which they now pradlife 
 in the Mills, teaches a Way how to re- 
 duce it to extraordinary fine Flower in a 
 kind of Horfe Mill, with Stones like 
 Mill Stones : He thought this Pains to 
 be neceffary, although to an End differ- 
 ent from that refining which we now prac- 
 tife in the Mills, wherein it is clearly and 
 indifpenfibly neceffary. I learned the 
 Manner of doing this from one that had 
 gotten a great deal of Money by grinding 
 the Lumps over again, although he did 
 not take out all the Plate, becaufe he 
 ground them in an ordinary Mill, whofe 
 Hammers could not beat it fo fmall as it 
 ought to be, for the Lumps either flip- 
 ped away from under the Hammer, or 
 being uneven one defended the other from 
 the Stroke *, to have good Sieves, and 
 Care in lifting them up is of great Impor- 
 tance to this Matter-, but not a full Re- 
 medy, after the wafhing of the Oar, ef- 
 pecially if it were of rich Metal is the beft 
 gathering up of Lumps to regrind. If 
 they burn the Lumps, they will yield 
 more Flour, becaufe fome of the Lumps 
 will calcine and be fmoother, and others 
 will fwcll and grow more fpungy, where- 
 by the Blow of the Hammer will have 
 
 better 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 better Effe£t upon them. I doufe ano- 
 ther Way of Preparation by boiling, as 
 Ihall be fhewed hereafter, which I do hold 
 more proper to be ufed in all Refination 
 by Quickfilver *, put the Oar ground and 
 fearfed into a Skillet in like Manner (as 
 if it were already incorporated with Quick- 
 filver, and ready for walking) then pour 
 a fufficient Quantity of Water upon it, 
 ftirring it with a Ladle or Hand-Mill, 
 whereby all the fine will fwim at top, and 
 the grols and ill ground will fink to the 
 bottom ; take away the fine with a Ladle, 
 put it in the melting Pot and boil it, 
 grind the grofifer Part again in a Mill or 
 a Mortar, until it become all Meal ; if I 
 defire to make a Xoves of the fine Sort 
 after the ordinary Manner of refining, I 
 muff mingle fome pure Sand therewith, 
 that it may fwell and want the Inconveni- 
 ences which that kind of Oar ufeth to be 
 accompanied withalL 
 
 CHAP. XLIII. 
 
 Touching the burning of Oar. 
 
 T H E burning of Oar is ufeful for two 
 Purpofes, viz. i. That it may 
 grind the better. 2. That it maybe in 
 better Difpofition for the Quickfilver to 
 
 lay 
 
( *41 ) 
 
 lay hold of, and incorporate itfelf with 
 the Silver that is in it. The Reafon of 
 the firft is plain, and Experience fhews 
 the latter ; fince they order all the Ne- 
 grillos or blacker Oar in that Manner, but 
 generally don’t underftand the Realon 
 thereof. And certainly in all the Art of 
 Refining, nothing is pradtifed fo much by 
 Guefs or Chance, and v/ithout knowing 
 the Ground of it, as this is. Refiners 
 will fay, they burn the Oar to clear it of 
 ill Qualities, not apprehending that thence 
 it will follow that by Fire enough they 
 fhould quite cleanfe and purify it, where- 
 as the contrary is found by experience ; 
 and that according as they burn it more, 
 the worfe conditioned is the Oar, and 
 needs the Help of fame other material to 
 prevent that all the Silver and Quickfilver 
 too, that is in it, be not loft. 
 
 There is but one Enemy naturally op- 
 pofite unto Quickfilver (as hath been faid 
 already) and that is the Copperas, and 
 the Fire is not only ufelefs for the van- 
 quifhing that, but on the contrary it mul- 
 tiplies and encreafes it ; and if the Oar 
 have no Copperas in it when it is put into 
 the Fire, the Fire will beget and pro- 
 duce it, as may eafily be feen by Experi- 
 ment. In the burning of Negrillos (or 
 black Oar) in which the Fire encieafes 
 the Copperas fo much, that it is necefiary 
 
 to 
 
'( * 4 * ) 
 
 to ufe other Materials in the burning of it 
 to repair that Damage, although if they 
 had throughly underflood this Matter, 
 ’they might have cheaper and eafier done it, 
 by waffling the Oar fas I have faid before) 
 until it was cleared of all the Copperas ; 
 the Ignorance of which Remedy hath 
 been the Occafion of great Wafle and 
 Lofs. 
 
 Other Difeafes of Oar do not diredly 
 injure the Quickfilver, only by the Var- 
 nifh and glaffy Quality which they give, 
 they hinder the Plate and Quickfilver 
 from incorporating and making a Mafs 
 together ; and therefore the Rule in this 
 Cafe is to burn the Oar fo long until it 
 change Colour and lofe the Luftre and 
 Sparkling that it had. To know the Oar 
 that of Neceffity mufl be burnt fif it be to 
 be refined by Quickfilver) the Luftre and 
 Shining aforefaid is a certain Sign. The 
 Fire will not prejudice that Oar they call 
 Pacos, and if it have any Mixture of the 
 aforefaid Impediments, it muft of neceftl- 
 ty be burnt. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
( J 43 ) 
 
 CHAP. XLIV. 
 
 T inching the Damage that refults from the 
 burning of Oar . 
 
 M E N having hitherto proceeded by 
 Chance as it were, and without 
 certain Knowledge of the Quantity of 
 Silver contained in a Piece of Oar have 
 judged him the bed: Refiner that' has got- 
 ten moft Silver by one Operation, leaving 
 it doubtful whether any more or no were 
 to be gotten out of the Oar, efpeciaily in 
 the Negrillos and Oars that cannot be ex- 
 cufed from burnfng. This Doubt has 
 been greater, there being lels Certainty 
 here where there ought to be much the 
 greater ; and from hence Men have found 
 no lefs Inconvenience by miflaking on 
 the one Hand, than on the other *, where- 
 fore this Manner of Preparation hath been 
 efleemed, as dangerous as profitable. 
 With Skill and Curiofity one may ob- 
 ferve many Wonders of Nature in the 
 burning of Oar, the Parts of Iron and 
 Brimftone, which commonly accompany 
 the Oar, when they come to the Fire are 
 converted into Vitriol or green Copperas ; 
 this afterwards is turned into fine Copper \ 
 again, the Copper calcined, diffolves in 
 
 Water 
 
( 144 ) 
 
 Water like Salt, the which ftrained and 
 evaporated by a gentle Heat, coagulates 
 imo another kind of Vitriol, or blue Cop- 
 peras, like unto that which they call the 
 Stone Lipes , and is of admirable Virtue for 
 the turning of almoft all Metals into Cop- 
 per *, the Purity of Silver itfelf does not 
 excufe it from being fubjedt to fuch a 
 Metamorphofis ; for if the Oar have in it 
 any Allum, Copperas, Saltpetre, or Ni- 
 tre, by the Help of the Fire they will 
 calcine the Silver fo, that it will diftolve 
 in Water, and not be laid hold on by 
 Q uckfilver without ufing lome new Ar- 
 tifice *, and even Salt alone as it grows in- 
 corporated in the Oar, or mingled with 
 it in the Fire is capable -of producing the 
 fame Effedt as lhall appear evidently in 
 the following Experiments. 
 
 CHAP. XLV. 
 
 Experiments which prove the Damage by 
 the burning oj Oar if they be not known 
 and remedied. 
 
 C "1 RIND a Piece of Oar that has 
 Jf Copper or Iron in it, and by the 
 Direction of the Fifth Chapter of this 
 Book, try if there be any Copperas in it, 
 and if there be, clear the Oar by walking 
 
( *45 ) 
 
 of it, and after it is-dry burn it well, and 
 put it into Water again, and you fhall fee 
 much Copperas anew produced by the 
 Fire ; the Refiners daily do this with their 
 Hands, although they take no notice of it , 
 and although this Experiment be fuffici- 
 ent to fatisfy every body, yet for greater 
 Confirmation of this Secret to grind Oar 
 of Copper or Iron, and melt it into thin 
 Plates and grind fo me Sulphur, and in aCru- 
 cible or earthen Pot unglazed, put a Lare 
 of that Sulphur and upon that lay one of 
 the Plates, and proceed in that Order as 
 far as you think fit, flop the Mouth of it 
 well, that it give no Vent, and after it is 
 dry, put it between red hot Coals in fuch 
 Manner as they encompafsit roundabout, 
 but do not touch it 5 after the Crucible is 
 fufficiently hot, put the Fire nearer to it, 
 and at lafi make the Fire fierce ; but not 
 fo much as to melt the Plates *, then take 
 it out, and the Plates will look black and 
 be brittle, grind them very fine, and put 
 the fourth Part of their Weight of beaten 
 Sulphur, together with them into a Piece 
 of broken Pot or earthen Rafon upon Em- 
 bers, heat them fo as you heat an Enfay of 
 the black Oar, ftirring them continually 
 until the Sulphur have left Smoaking, and 
 the oftener you repeat this the better j lafi; 
 of all, being well beaten and hot, or elfe 
 the Water hot, and after a little time boil 
 H the 
 
( 146 ) 
 
 ttie Water, and if it colours bright Iron 
 of a Copper Colour, that the Water eva- 
 porate by a gentle Fire, until it begins to 
 be covered with a kind of Cream, then 
 take it off and fet it a cooling, and it will 
 congeal into moil beautiful traniparent 
 Copperas, green if the Plates were of 
 Iron, or blue if the Plates were of Cop- 
 per. 
 
 Diffolve this Copperas, or Stone Lipis 
 in Water, and put Steel or Iron to it, and 
 it turns into molt pure Copper, fmooth, 
 and foft as Gold after it is new melted. 
 If one melt Lead or Tin, and pour it in 
 jmall drops upon the Face of that Water, 
 the whole Superficies will be turned into 
 Copper, and the oftener it is repeated, 
 the greater Quantity of the Lead will be 
 transformed until no Lead remain. 
 
 Tin is very eafily turned into Brafs, I 
 was the firfl which in the Province of the 
 Lipes found out and published thefe 
 Secrets. Alfo Silver is turned into Cop- 
 per, if it be made very fine, and with 
 much Salt (an Experiment which ought to 
 be as highly efteemed by the Refiners, 
 as the turning Copper into Silver.) dqua 
 fortis is a common Thing, if it were not, 
 it’s Vertue would be held miraculdus ; it 
 turns Silver into Water, and calcines it 
 into Duft •, it is made of Copperas or Al- 
 lum and Saltpetre. The Spirits that fly 
 
 from 
 
( *47 ) 
 
 from any ’of thefe Subftances, when Oar 
 that contains them is caft into the Furnace 
 works the fame Effects with beaten Brick 
 and Salt, efpecially of the Rock is made 
 a Cement, wherewith they feparate Silver 
 from Gold ; thefe two attrad the Silver to 
 themfelves, and with the Heat of the Fire 
 only calcine it ; in the burning of Oar 
 they have the fame Effed ; the Silver be* 
 ing calcined in either of theaforefaid Man- 
 ners, if it be put into Water, diffolves in 
 it like Salt, and the Water looks white 
 as Milk, and will fpot one’s Hands or 
 Nails if you touch it ; notable Signs of 
 Aqua forth in Silver, whereunto Refiners 
 ought to have great Regard, that it de- 
 stroy not their Silver •, thefe Inconveni- 
 ences there are in the burning of Metals, 
 befides another which anon fhall be dilco- 
 vered, and though the proper way of a- 
 voiding them is cafling or melting the 
 Oar which renders ufeful, not only that 
 Metal wich is precious, but alfo the bafer 
 Sort, as fhall be fhewn in it’s Place, ne- 
 verthelefs becaufe all Places do not afford 
 Conveniences for melting down Oar, nor 
 all Oars contain Metals rich enough to 
 pay the Coft, let the aforefiid Inconveni- 
 ences when they happen, be remedied ac- 
 cording to the Rules which fhall be let 
 down hereafter, altho* it be impoflible to 
 H 2 prepare 
 
prepare Oar without burning, fo as to 
 yield that Quantity of Plate it did by 
 Quickfilver, as lhall be fhewn where th$ 
 Refination by boiling is treated ojf. 
 
 C H A P. XL VI. 
 
 Whether the Oar ought to he burnt in the 
 
 o 
 
 9 tone or in the Meal . 
 
 HEY ufe to burn Oar in the 
 
 i Stone or in the Meal ; and burning 
 it in the Meal, they better underftand the 
 Nature of the Oar, for taking Care to ftir 
 it well about, and mix it equally in the 
 Furnace, taking out a fmall Quantity, and 
 putting Quickfilver and Salt thereunto in 
 a fhort Space of Time, by the Pifpofiti- 
 on of the Quickfilver you fhall quickly 
 know what the Oar is, whether it begin 
 to grow like Lead or no, and whether 
 the Lead be grofs or fine, or whether 
 there be need of more Materials or no, or 
 whether to continue, or flop the burning 
 of it, according as every Refiner by 
 his own Experience hath found to fucceed 
 bell: with it out of that Oar which is 
 burnt in the Stone , cannot be chofen 
 this Equality, becaufe the Force of 
 the Fire cannot be equally communica- 
 ted -to Stones in a divers Situation and 
 
 of 
 
( *49 ) 
 
 of different Bignefs *, for it is clear that 
 the fmall Stones are fooner heated than 
 the greater, and thofe that are in the 
 Centre of the Furnace, fooner than thole 
 that touch the Sides *, but this Man- 
 ner of burning is fubjedt to leaft Damage, 
 befides that it facilitates the grinding of 
 the Oar. 
 
 It is a great Error to burn Oar already 
 ground by Reverberation* bceaufe the 
 Kercenefs of the Fire burns the Sulphur 
 or Betune which it contains, and fuffer it 
 not to difeharge itfelf by little and little, 
 but obligeth it to mingle itfelf with the 
 Silver, and altogether to turn it in€o 
 Drols •, moreover the Force of the Flanfoe 
 raifes up the fettled Part of the Silver 1 ' 
 when they ftir the Oar, and turning it 
 into Smoak, blows it out of the Furnace. 
 The moft fecure Way of burning Oar al- 
 ready ground, is to do it by a Toftadillo 
 (or preferving Pan) made in the Fafhion 
 of a Furnace, as fhall be diredted hereaf- 
 ter, and becaufe the Me^l is wont by the 
 Fire to gather into little Lumps, or elfe to 
 grow fpungy and grofs, it is convenient to 
 grind it over again, before it be incorpo- 
 rated ; the bell Way of all has been faid 
 were to burn it in the Stone, becaufe it fa- 
 cilitates and faves a great Part of the 
 grinding, and avoids the Inconvenience 
 of the fine Silver flying away in theSmoak,- 
 H 3 and 
 
( «J0 ) 
 
 and where the Oar is incorporated in hard 
 Pebble and Flint, which are very untrac- 
 table Stones, it is neceflary to burn them. 
 Ocher Sorts of Oar ought not to be burnt 
 alone, but in the Meal with the Mixture 
 which fhall be prefcribed according to the 
 ill Qualities wherewith they are affe&ed. 
 
 CHAP. XLVII. 
 
 Of Materials to be mixed with Oar , when 
 they burn it . 
 
 I T is no extraordinary, but a common 
 Thing for Iron to be engendered in 
 the Gold and Silver Oar, and the Oar that 
 is fo affe&ed is moft difficult for burning 
 or Fundkion either ; it may be difeovered 
 by the Slownefs of the Heat’s Penetration 
 into it, and alfo by a Loadftone, palling 
 it over the Oar, after it is well burnt, and 
 ground, which will fnatch up the Iron, if 
 there be any, or more or lefs of it, accord- 
 ing to the Quantity mixed with the Oa?« 
 This Kind of Oar after it is ground, ought 
 to be mixed with Sulphur, or which is bet* 
 ter with the Meal of Oar that hath Sul- 
 phur, or Antimony in it, and in fuch 
 Proportion as the Quantity of Iron in the 
 Oar requires : when they are mingled, 
 heat them upon the ToftadillQ until that 
 ■ taking 
 
( IJl ) 
 
 taking out fome of the Meal, and enlay- 
 ing it according to Cudom, the Oar is 
 found to be well conditioned. Sulphur is 
 the Dviftru&ion of all Metals, Gold only 
 excepted ; it hurts Tin Jefs thanotherMe- 
 tals, and Iron mod of all, and that is the 
 Reafon why the Sulphur and Iron comba- 
 ting with, and dedroying each other in 
 the Furnace, the Silver is left alone by it’s 
 felf. In like Manner is Oar cured that 
 contains Sulphur or Antimony, being 
 mingled and burnt with the Oar, or Drofs 
 of Iron after it is well ground. 
 
 That Oar which contains Orpiment, as 
 Sandaraca, ought to be burnt with Soro- 
 ches, which is Oar of Lead and Sulphur *, 
 that which contains Betune black or white* 
 mud be burnt with Drofs of Iron, and 
 Powder of white Stones, whereof they 
 make Lime : Bdides, what hath been al- 
 ready faid, the Difeafes of Oar may be 
 known by putting a little of it ground fome- 
 what grofs upon a red hot Plate pf Iron,ob- 
 ferving well what Fume it makes, which 
 if it be white or black, participates of Be- 
 tunes of that Colour *, if it were yellow* 
 of Orpiment; if red, of Sandaraca ; if it 
 be yellow in the Middle, and green on the 
 Outfides, of Sulphur ; and likewife the 
 Earth that is drawn out of the Mine, to- 
 gether with the Oar, will oftentimes fend 
 forth Fumes of the like Kind of Colours. 
 
 H 4 CHAP. 
 
( < 5 * ) 
 
 CHAP. XLVIII. 
 
 TVhat the Refiner muft do before he incorpo- 
 rates the Caxon . 
 
 r lp H E Refiner thoroughly underftand- 
 i. ing what has been faid before, the 
 Oar being well ground and cearfed with 
 that Curiofity and Circumfpe&ion which 
 -is necefiary (fo that it need not be picked) 
 before he doth go about to incorporate the 
 Caxon, and before he burns the Meal, if 
 there were Need thereof, let him fet apart 
 three or four Pound of the Flower well 
 mingled, and ftirring it together again a- 
 frefli, take a fmall Quantity, and make 
 two Enfays thereof by melting in fuch 
 Manner, as fliall be fiiewed hereafter ; 
 whereby he fiiall certainly know what Sil- 
 ver the Caxon contains, and how much he 
 may expe&to get out of it. Layingdown 
 this Ground, that the Oar is of that they 
 call Pacos , and needs not burning, nor 
 contains Copperas, nor Coppaquiras, take 
 out fome in the Manner abovefaid, and 
 enfay a Pound of it by Quickfilver, but 
 firfl pour upon the Oar a good deal of fair 
 Water, more than is ordinarily necefiary, 
 and let it Hand awhile, and if there arife 
 a Scum, or Cream, that is grofs, or oily, 
 
 fcum 
 
( *53 ) 
 
 fcum it off, and let that Water run out* 
 and repeat the lame with frefh Water, fo 
 often, until no fuch Scumarife, then take 
 out fo much Water as is fuperfluous, and 
 put Salt and Quickfilver to it, and without 
 any other Material proceed in repeating* 
 to call in thofe too, marking well the O- 
 peration of the Quickfilver* whether by 
 Accident it meets with more Quickfilver; 
 whether it turns little or much to Lead, 
 -whether it dil&lves or remains entire ; if 
 it fallens upon the Oar without the Help 
 'Of any Material, it is a Sign that the Oar 
 doth attradl it to itfelf : Repeat the Ope- 
 ration fo* until you find that the Force of 
 the Silver and the Repetition do walle the 
 Quickfilver, which if it do, the Work is 
 excellent, and will produce the Silver in* 
 Dull as linall as Pin-dull, which mud be 
 gotten together by fearfing, and the Re- 
 mainder, which is mingled with Qaick- 
 filver, mull be gotten by waffling, and fo 
 you fhall have all that the Oar contained,, 
 agreeable to the Experiment which was 
 made by melting. The Oar of Berenguela 
 de Pacages is of the Quality aforemention- 
 ed, a great deal whereof was fpoiled at 
 firit, by working it with Materials, fup- 
 pofing it impoffible there fhould be Oar, 
 which did not Hand in need thereof-, now 
 adays they refine with only Salt andQjick- 
 fiiver* and get theTame Quantity of Silva, 
 H‘ 5 as 
 
( »54 ) 
 
 as they did by melting, which is all that 
 the Oar contains ; this Oar is called Co- 
 Irico , if the Enfay do fhew Lead, for fo 
 they call it, when the Quickfilver lofes it’s 
 own bright Colour, and looks like Lead, 
 then otherMaterials are requifite to cleanfe 
 it, that it may the better take hold of, and 
 gather the Silver together *, thofe Mate- 
 rials that have this Virtue are Iron difiolv- 
 ed, Lead or Tin, and Lime flacked, or 
 unflacked for fome Refemblance it hath to 
 Metal ; any Oar may be refined with the 
 Help of any one of thefe Materials, altho*. 
 that leems to be befl, which is neareft of 
 Kindred to the Mixture of the Oar. If 
 the Dufl of the Silver, and Colour of the 
 Quickfilver, be dufky and blackifh, then 
 Iron is moft proper for it, for that which 
 looks like Lead, Lead itfelf is befl to that 
 which is clear; Tin is the befl for Quick- 
 filver that looks as if it were gilt and hath 
 Copper in it ; Lime is the befl. That Ma- 
 terial which is-mofl convenient, they throw 
 in by little and little at a Time, by Mea- 
 fure and Weight, until the Quickfilver 
 look clear, and lay hold on the Silver, 
 and by this they make the Account by the 
 great, how much Materials they are to put 
 into a Caxon or Cheft, according to die 
 Number of Quintals it contains. 
 
 If the Quickfilver be changed into white 
 Powder or Afhe$,and often palling it again 
 
 through 
 
( 1 55 ) 
 
 through the Oar, do not make It finer, it 
 proceeds from the Weight and Solidity of 
 the Oar, the proper Accidents of thofe they 
 call Soroches and Margagitas, and thofe 
 other Oars that fparkle and have Need of 
 burning, as have been laid before. Hard 
 Stones that have no Silver in them, caufe 
 the fame Accidents in Quickfilver, where- 
 fore looking upon it, reduced to whitePovv- 
 der as aforefaid, if you do not difcern ei- 
 ther black Oar or Margagita amongft it, 
 there was no Silver contained in that Oar 
 which was cn fayed, and is good for no- 
 thing. 
 
 If in the leffer Enfay, the Quickfilver 
 be bright and entire, and falls to work, 
 laying hold on theSilver, there is no Need 
 of uling any other Material *, all Enfays 
 are made with a very little Quickfilver, 
 that there may be Room to ufe any other 
 Materials, if there be Occafion for it, ' if 
 not, that more Quickfilver may be added, 
 and fo the Work of Refining performed 
 with greater Brevity and Security, as lhall 
 be fhewed hereafter * and let not the Re- 
 finer ceafe making Experiments, Until the 
 ldfer Enfay which he makes by Quickfil- 
 ver, correfpon^ with that which he makes 
 by melting, and let him proceed refpec- 
 tively in the greater Refining of the Ca- 
 xones. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( * 5 < 5 ) 
 
 CHAP. XLIX. 
 
 Continuing the Rules of the left Chapter, touch - 
 • ing Oar that has Need of burning. 
 
 I F the Oar have Need of burning, as 
 hath been faid before, and the Enlays 
 by melting made, and the Refiner allured 
 of the Quantity of Plate the Oar contains, 
 let him burn it* obferving the Rules of 
 what he is to mix with it according to the 
 Big nefs of the Work, and the Conveni- 
 ence he hath to perform it in, but in no 
 Cafe let him burn any Oar with Salt ; be- 
 fides that it helps to calcine the Silver, it 
 gives a ftronger Force to thofe ill Fumes 
 •which are in the Oar to penetrate into and 
 fpoil the Silver. One cannot well tell the 
 fet Number of Hours, wherein one ought 
 to let Oar continue in the Fire, but the 
 lure Rule to know when the Oar is well 
 conditioned, is by enfaying fome of the 
 burnt Meal •, and if the Quickfilver re- 
 main intire and clear, and Silver (ticking 
 about it like driven Snow, then it is burnt 
 enough, and the Fire continued, will cer- 
 tainly produce this Effecft if the Oar be 
 mingled with due Materials, and in a juft 
 Quantity, in order to which, as alfo in the 
 Oars they call Pacos, let them make lefler 
 
 Enfays 
 
C $ 1*57 ) 
 
 Enfays toknow what Quantity of Materi- 
 als are to be put into the Furnace with e- 
 very Quintal of Oar, but becaufe thcfe 
 Enfays are feldom made as they fhould 
 be, let the following Rules be obferved. 
 
 When the Oar in the Furnace leaves 
 fmelling ill, it is a Sign it has dilcharged 
 itfelf of all the Sulphur and Antimony 
 that is in it * when that Oar charged with 
 Betune, and at the firfl coming into the 
 Furnace, throwing out a thick and black 
 Smoak by Degrees, fends forth a thinner 
 and whiter Fume ; it fhews that Incon- 
 venience to be cured. 
 
 When Oar changes Colour, lofing the 
 fparkling that it had, and of Negrillo be- 
 coming Paco , it is a certain Sign that 
 it is well difpofed for theQuickfilver, al- 
 though in this there be exceeding great 
 Latitude. 
 
 That Oar which contains Copperas, if 
 it be put in the Fire, muft firft be cleanfed 
 by walking in Meal, as hath been faid, 
 ©therwife when it comes in the Furnace, 
 it will become very red as may be feen if 
 one burn Copperas alone in the Fire. 
 
 When Enfaying a little of the Meal 
 burnt the Quicklilver begins to look like 
 Lead, it is a Sign that by the Heat of the 
 Fire, the Copper, or Iron which the Me- 
 tal contains (together with the Mixture of 
 Sulphur) the Antimony or Margagita are 
 
 turn— 
 
( *58 ) 
 
 turning into Copperas, and that the fa- 
 Iter, the longer the Fire continues. 
 
 Take a Pound of the Meal out of the 
 Furnace, whilft it is hot put into a VefTel, 
 and pour Water upon it three or four 
 Fingers deep, then dir it well, and let it 
 fettle, then if the Water turn white, or 
 ftain one*s Nails, or change the Colour 
 of the Tags of Points put thereinto, it is 
 a Sign that the Silver calcineth and dif- 
 folves in the Water like Salt ; fave this 
 Water in a glafs VefTel, and pour more 
 upon the Oar two or three times, or as of* 
 ten as is neceflary, till it do not turn white 
 and all the Silver that is calcined, will 
 be gotten out of the Oar ; let the Water 
 evaporate by a gentle Fire, and all the 
 Plate will fettle in the botttom, and be- 
 come fit for Ufe by melting. 
 
 If the Water into which the hot Oar 
 was put, gives no Signs of the Silver, be- 
 ing calcined, dip polifhed Iron into it, 
 and if it come out coloured like Copper, 
 there is much Copperas in the Metal; where- 
 fore wafh the Metal in the Manner as hath 
 been taught, until it be cleared of the Cop- 
 peras, and change not the Colour of Iron ; 
 fave the Waters of this Operation, for they 
 are very ufeful in the refining Oar that 
 have need of it, and if you fhouldtake out, 
 and melt the Sediment that is in the Bot- 
 tom o£ that Water, fine Copper will be 
 
 pro* 
 
( *59 ) 
 
 produced thereby, or Silver if any fuch 
 have been calcined. 
 
 Enfay a little of the Oar, fo difpofed, 
 by Qaickfilver, as hath been faid of the 
 Oars Pacos, until by Experience you 
 have found out the Way how to refine 
 in greater Quantity, fo that you may get 
 as much Silver as you know that Oar con- 
 tains by Enfays cf melting in the Fire. 
 Let nobody condemn thele for tedious 
 and unnecefifary Curiofities, for there is 
 nothing more profitable and important in 
 thefe Matters, nor left commonly known j 
 and by the Care and Pains of a few Days, 
 the Refiner will be acquainted with the 
 Sorts and Qualities of Oar that come to 
 his Hand, and know how to proceed 
 with them without wearying himfelf with 
 making Enfays ; but for all that hath 
 been faid, the Oar never comes to be per- 
 fe&ly refined, until the Silver little or 
 much that it contained be purified and 
 whitened in the Meal, and it is not im- 
 pofiible to put it in that Eftatc. Since 
 the Oars Pacos of Lead may be reduced 
 thereunto only by burning, and the Ne- 
 grillos and others alfo that have Sulphur 
 in them which ftains and blacks the Silver, 
 although it muft be a long time in the 
 Fire before it comes to this, and both one 
 Sort of Oar and the other muft have Boil- 
 lings and Liquors often paffed thro* them, 
 '■* which 
 
( 160 ) 
 
 'which do cleanfe and whiten the Silver, 
 fuch as Millo, Allum, Salt and others, 
 the Oar being in this Condition, needs no 
 other Material but Quickfilver, which m 
 lefs than four Days time will gather toge- 
 ther all the Silver, and be very little con- 
 fumed itfelf, 'becaufe the fhort time of O- 
 peration, the Abfence of ill Qualities, 
 and the leldom times repaying it through 
 the Oar, will not regrind, or difperfe it 
 to Powder, which is the principal Reafon 
 of the lofs of Quickfilver, as fhall be fhew- 
 ed hereafter. 
 
 CHAP. L. 
 
 Of the Nature of Quickfilver. 
 
 D Efering until another Occafion, 
 which it may be in due time will of- 
 fer itfelf to treat purpofely of Quickfilver, 
 and fome Excrements thereof, of no lefs 
 Profit than Curiofity, for the prefent, I 
 fhall only fay with that Phoenix of Science 
 in his intelle&ive Art, which all do fol- 
 low, who treat of the hidden Philofophy 
 of Metals, that Nature hath made this 
 body of fo uniform a Subftance, and of 
 Parts foperfedly united, that even the 
 Fire, his greateft Enemy, as the Vulgar 
 think, is not powerful enough by dividing 
 
 to 
 
( 161 ) 
 
 to corrupt, and deftroy it as it dothvifi- 
 bly all other Metals and Bodies in the 
 World, except Gold and Silver. The 
 Quickfilvcr retains it*s whole intire Sub- 
 ftance in the Fire if it be prepared on Pur- 
 pofe for it, which many Perfons know 
 how to do, or elfe all of it will fly quite a- 
 way in the Form of Smoak, and meeting 
 with any body that refrefhes it 5 it will 
 condenfe therein in it’s own proper Form 
 without being diminiffied one Hair, ei- 
 ther in Weight or Quantity ; neither alfo 
 do the ill Qualities that are ordinarily 
 found in Oar corrupt Quickfilver in Veins 
 wherein it is begotten, nor in the Chefts 
 wherein they refine, for although Coppe- 
 ras do diffolve it in that Manner that it 
 feems to be confumed, and being fubli- 
 mated in Copperas, and common Salt, 
 it is transformed and turned into that 
 which we call Mercury , that one would 
 think it were totally destroyed and turned 
 into another Species, yet it is not fo, but 
 all thofe Accidents have their Remedies, 
 and it is neither impoffible nor very diffi- 
 cult to quicken it again, and unite it, and 
 in it’s Place I fhall fhew how this is to be 
 done. 
 
 C HAP. 
 
( *&* ) 
 
 r C H A P. LI. 
 
 Vouching the Caufes and Differences of that 
 which is called Lis. 
 
 Q Uickfilver difiolved, and divided in- 
 to very flibtle Parts, is commonly 
 called by the Refiners Lis , which 
 fhews itfelf like an Eyebrow, in the Mat- 
 ter Purunnia when the Oar is enfayed ; 
 and from it the experienced Refiners take 
 their Indication cf ^he Quality of the Oar 
 and Condition of the Caxones ; it is caufed 
 of by the often palling of it through the 
 Oar (a Thing inexcufable in the ordinary 
 Way of Refining) although it hath no ill 
 Quality at all, but if it hath Copperas in it, 
 it will grind the Quickfilver in great Ex- 
 tremity, as hath been faid e If Quickfil- 
 ver be without any foreign Impreflion up- 
 on it, and be difiolved into Lis y which is 
 white, it is called Lis of Quickfilver ; Lis 
 of other Materials, is called that which is 
 made by Quickfilver of Tin or Lead; and 
 Lis of Silver is the fine and fubtle Parts of 
 Silver, made by the repafling of the Quick- 
 filver through the Oar, but not as yet join- 
 ed or incorporated with it; which when it 
 is, they call by the Name of Pella (which 
 fignifies a Ball or Pellet). Quickfilver is 
 
 fufceptible 
 
( l6 3 ) 
 
 fufceptible of divers Colours, which ap- 
 pears in the Lifes according to the diffe- 
 rent Matter which accompanies that Silver 
 Oar into which it is thrown ; thefe Colours 
 are reduced into three Genufes as it were, 
 which comprehend under them feveral o- 
 ther Species. 
 
 r* C IcdV} 
 
 Thofe three are < Lead Coloured , 
 
 C Spot ted. 
 
 The Quickfilver looks clear, either 
 when the Oar hath no Silver at all in it, 
 or when the Silver it contains is fine with- 
 out any Alloy or Mixture ; in that Cafe 
 the Quickfilver will attradl, and cloath it- 
 felf with the Duft of fine Silver, without 
 lofing the Livelinefs of it’s Colour •, which 
 when it changeth, they call it leaden, for 
 it*s likenefs unto the Colour of that Metal, 
 although it always is accompanied with 
 Signs that the Oar contains Silver, unlefs 
 it be that the Lead, for fo they call it, 
 proceed from falfe Principles, and thofe 
 have t a manifeft Caufe although little tak- 
 en Notice of, as well as the other Proceed- 
 ings in refining, which hitherunto have 
 been governed by Chance. It is Copper- 
 as alone fphe mortal Enemy of Quickfilver) 
 which gives it the falfe Colour of Lead, 
 in like Manner as it doth to other Metals 
 the Colour of Copper ; the other Lead 
 Colour is a certain Sign of Silver, becaufe 
 
 ordi- 
 
( i6a ) 
 
 Ordinarily it is made in raw Oar, that h 
 mixed with divers other bad things, the 
 which attracting to itfelf the Quickfilver *- 
 the Quickfilver Jays hold of, and carries 
 away both the Metal, and alfo it’s bad 
 Companions, who give it that ftrange Co- 
 lour *, this is the true Ground of what is 
 treated of in the 12th Chapter of this 
 Book, and the Reafon of that Aflertion, 
 that the black or obfcure Lis , or Colour 
 of Quickfilver proceeds from Oar that is 
 mixed with Iron y if the Quickfilver have 
 a deep lead Colour, then it hath Lead it- 
 felf in it’s Company ^ if it be fomething 
 more clear, then it hath Tin * and if it 
 look as if it were gilt a little. Copper. 
 Whether the Lis beof Quick filver* Silver, 
 or of other Materials is eafy to be difcern- 
 ed ; for the Lis of Quickfilver is very 
 fine, white, but wanting Quicknefs, and 
 when it falls together with the Water into 
 the Tray, it doth not run up and down, 
 but remains as if it ftuck to the Bottom, 
 and if you rub it with your finger, it will 
 unite into Lumps of Quickfilver. The 
 Lis of Silver fhines, and is like Pinduft, 
 or finer according to the Richnefs of the 
 Oar, when they let the Water out from 
 Oar ; it runs about the Bottom of the 
 Tray, and if you rub it with your finger, 
 it will gather together into Pellets \ the 
 Lis of other Materials, is as it were a mid- 
 dle 
 
( * 6 $ ) 
 
 die Thing between the other two, and 
 being reduced into a Body by rubbing if 
 with one’s Finger, it unites itfelf with, the 
 touched Quickfilver. 
 
 CHAP. LII. 
 
 Whether it he fitting at firft to put in all the 
 Quickfilver, and the other Materials at 
 once or no ? 
 
 T HE Oar being in good Difpofition 
 and the Refiner by the foregoing 
 Rules being afTured how much Silver the 
 Caxon contains, and what Proportion of 
 Quickfilver and other Materials is necefifa- 
 ry to be put in, fo that when it comes to 
 be waflied, it may yield three Parts of 
 Silver Pellets, and one of Quickfilver. It 
 may be doubted whether all the Quickfil- 
 ver and Materials aforefaid, fliould be 
 put int© the incorporating Vefiel at once, 
 or no : For the moil Part, if not all the 
 Artifls of this Country did ufe to do it at 
 once i until about 20 Years ago. When 
 I came to live in the Province of the Lipes, 
 I perfuaded them to the contrary, accord- 
 ing to Rules, which I had learned in fuch 
 like Operations, out of Raimundus Lulhts ; 
 which do evidently agree with the ordina- 
 ry Courfe of Nature, that brings to Per-* 
 
 fe&ion 
 
( ) 
 
 fcftion all Things by a flow and gentle 
 Growth, and not fuddenly nor violently. 
 A very little Fire is Sufficient to burn the 
 whole World, if the combuJftible Matter 
 were put into it by little and little, pro- 
 portionable to the Force of the Fire *, but 
 if all that Matter, or an over-great Pro- 
 portion of it Should be laid upon the Fire 
 at once, it would choak it, and put it out. 
 The natural Heat of Animals is fubje&to 
 the fame Inconvenience, and the fame hap- 
 pens proportionally unto the Chefls of Me- 
 tals : Befides that by Experience it is found, 
 that the extraordinary Cold of much Quick- 
 filver, doth accidentally bind up the Oar, 
 and hinder the Refine, as on the contrary 
 any Heat haftens it. Moreover, if becaufe 
 they have judged ill of the Remedy to be 
 put into theCheft, the Caxon delpair, and 
 the Quickfilver diflblve, the Remedy will 
 be the eafier, the lefs loofe the Caxon. 
 And if there be Need of uflng Tin or 
 Lead, which cannot be applied without 
 Quickfilver, that will be added with lefs 
 Danger, the Quickfilver being in already. 
 The fame Damage or greater follows, when 
 they exceed in the Quantity of Materials 
 they put into the Oar which hath Need 
 thereof, becaufe it dulls and deadens the 
 Quickfilver, fo that it will lay hold on 
 no Silver at all, and can very hardly ever 
 be reduced into that Condition it ought 
 
 to 
 
( l6 1 ) 
 
 to be. After many Days fpent in repaf- 
 fing the Quickfilver, and drefling of the 
 Oar, kt the Caxon be incorporated and 
 walked with a third Part of Quickfilver 
 at the moll •, and at firft put in half the 
 Tin or Lead, that is requifite to be fpent, 
 for fo the Quickfilver will the better 
 lay hold of the Plate, and draw it out 
 prefently before the Materials are confu- 
 med, which they call Aplomar : Whereby 
 will be avoided the Danger of the dry 
 Plate, which, like Froth, fwims upon 
 the Water that comes out, and is the Oc- 
 -cafion of much Mifchief. If the Caxon 
 Hand in need thereof, proceed to put in 
 more Quickfilver and other Materials, al- 
 ways diminilhing the Quantities proporti- 
 onally in fuch manner, that it may go 
 dry and not whet ; for fo there will be: 
 no Occafion for much Zir, and the Pel- 
 lets themlelves will lerve to get out the 
 rell of the Silver, whereby the Refining 
 will be fooneft and moft fecurely perform- 
 ed. If it be needful to refine with Lime, 
 the Rule already preferibed for Materials 
 will not ferve, but the Lime muft be put 
 in all at once \ and with it repafs the Cax- 
 on very well two or three Days before you 
 put it in the Quickfilver, taking efpecial 
 Care that you do not put in too much of it ; 
 becaufe it is the great Hinderance that 
 the Quickfilver doth not lay hold of the 
 
 great- 
 
( 1 68 ) 
 
 greater Plate, and that is more hard to cor- 
 re<ft than other Materials. 
 
 CHAP. LIII. 
 
 Of the repeated paffing the Quickfilver through 
 the Oar and the Effects thereof 
 
 t H E chiefand principal End of letting 
 it foak through, is to divide the 
 Quickfilver into feveral Bodies, that it 
 may every where lay hold of the Plate ; 
 alfo with that Motion it is heated, and 
 better diipofed for the Work: And laft 
 of all by that Frication, the Plate is clean- 
 fed and purified (which is that they call 
 wafting the Materials : ) All of them. 
 Things moil neceftary and important, al- 
 though they caufe an unpardonable Dam- 
 age, that hath been the lofs of many Mil- 
 lions in the wafting and Confumption of 
 Quickfilver : For the Rcpafiings have 
 been the Foundation of this Inconvenience, 
 by fqueezing the Quickfilver through the 
 grofler and finer Parts of the Meal into 
 fuch little Atoms (which they call Us) 
 that fcarce have Weight or Dimenfion i 
 which when they wafh, the Caxon doth 
 not fall down into the Tub at the Bot- 
 tom ; but beingover-drowned and mingl- 
 ed with the Lamas or Mud of the Meal, 
 
 it 
 
( i6 9 ) 
 
 it ftays and is caft away with them. This 
 Inconvenience may be prevented by two 
 Cautions •, the one is, that the firft and fe- 
 cond Day after the incorporating of the 
 Meal of Oar in the Caxon, they give not 
 above two gentle Repafiings, fo that the 
 Quickfilver may be divided, but not into 
 too fmall Parcels *, becaufe before it hath 
 gotten a good Body of Silver, it is fubjeft 
 to part itfelf over finely. The Second is 
 as abovelaid, that they put in the other 
 Materials dry, and not wetted with Quick- 
 filver, putting them in by little and little 
 when it is moft in the Proportion, one 
 Part of Quickfilver to two of Pellets. Let 
 nobody deceive themlelves, for altho* the 
 Meal in the Caxon contain other Materials 
 lufficient, if it be much bathed with Quick- 
 filver, that it fhall be fecured from the for- 
 mer Inconvenience ; yet contrariwife it 
 will rather be fubjeft to a greater Preju- 
 dice, for of Necefiity the Repafilngs will 
 make L/V, and if it happen by fome Acci- 
 dent, as it very well may, that the Mate- 
 rials be quite confumed *, inftead of the 
 Lis made of them will remain only Lis of 
 Quickfilver. In the Lis of Plate there is 
 not that Danger, that by the often Repaf- 
 fings the Silver, fhould be wafted or con- 
 fumed ; rather it is thereby better refined, 
 and better embraceth and uniteth itfelf 
 with the Quickfilver. 
 
 I CHAP, 
 
( * 7 ° ) 
 
 CHAP. LIV. 
 
 Of divers Accidents which happen in the Way 
 cf Refining by Quickfilver , and their Re- 
 medies. 
 
 I N the Progrefs of this Kind of Refi- 
 ning, divers Accidents are met withal 
 in the Caxons (or Chefls full of Oar ground 
 to be refined;) all which are difcovered 
 only by the Quickfilver, which as in a 
 Glafs reprelents the good, or ill Difpofi- 
 tion of the Metals, which in themfelves, 
 by Reafon of the Finenefs of the Meal in- 
 to which they are ground, and a Mixture 
 of Earth in the Oar, cannot be difcerned. 
 
 If the Quickfilver be very much charg- 
 ed above what it ought with Materials, 
 that is to fay. Lead, Tin, Iron, or Lime 
 (which the Spaniards call Quickfilver Tc- 
 €ado) it will appear round but flatter’d, or 
 rather prolonged like little Worms ; and 
 if you ftir it about the Tray without Wa- 
 ter, it will make Drops with little Tails, 
 and flick to the Sides of the Tray. And 
 when it is of this Condition, it is a Sign 
 that it is killed, and it’s Virtue obftrufred 
 from laying hold of the Silver. This Evil 
 is remedied by much Repafling, not with- 
 out great Coft and Expence of Time: The 
 
 qujckeft 
 
( 'V- ) 
 
 quickeft and moft efficacious Remedy is 
 Copperas, or the Water thereof, which 
 have (hewed how to make and to 
 keep in the Thirteenth Chapter of this 
 Book : Put it into the Caxones at the 
 fame- time as you do the Quickfilver, and 
 other refining Materials more or lefs, ac- 
 cording as there is Occafion, and you 
 (hall inflan tly fee the Effedt of it. The 
 Reafon whereof is plain, for (as hath 
 been faid^) Copperas dififolved in Water 
 Converts the baier Metals into true Cop- 
 per *, fo that the Quality of Gold which 
 they had before, and wherewith they 
 choaked the Qaickfilver, being turned in- 
 to Heat ( the Property of Copper) it is the 
 Caufe of reviving the Quickfilver : From 
 hence is grounded the Pradlice of putting 
 Copper ground fmall into the Caxon, 
 which is found very profitable for the Pur- 
 pole aforefaid : Hence alfo it comes to pafs, 
 that all Oar of Copper, although it be 
 rich, is not proper to clear Quickfilver 
 with, or to be ufed in the Refining to 
 make it Aplomar, unlefs it have a great 
 deal of Verdigreafe or Copperas. The 
 fame Account may be given of the Virtue 
 that is found in thofe they call Magiftrals, 
 which they ufe in the Refining to qualify 
 the Caxones with Heat, and to make them 
 Aplomar: Which Effeft is produced 
 from the burnt Copperas that is in it* as 
 I 2 may 
 
( » 7 * ) 
 
 may be feen in their Compofition, which 
 for better Satisfaction I final 1 here let down. 
 
 Burn Oar or Copper, and grind it 
 well ; then with an equal Quantity of 
 Salt knead it into a body together, and 
 having made it into Loaves, burn it a- 
 gain. 
 
 Others do mingle but one Part of Salt, 
 with two Parts of Copper Oar, which 
 they make up into a body and burn ; and 
 to one Quintal of that beaten to Powder, 
 they add half a Pound of Filings of Latin. 
 
 Another Magiftral is made of Lamas. 
 
 Relabes and Salt, an equal Portion of 
 either foundly burnt together. 
 
 Another is made of that Oar wherewith 
 they refine the Relabes and Salt put toge- 
 ther in equal Portions. 
 
 Another Sort may be made of Copper 
 Oar, Relabes Meal of that Oar which is 
 to be refined, drofs of Iron and Salt, all 
 burnt together in equal Portions and burnt 
 in Loaves. 
 
 Another is made of three Parts of the 
 Lamas burnt, and one Part of Salt. Eve- 
 ry one inventing fuch like Compofitions 
 or Proportions, according to his own 
 Fancy and Experience ; the Foundation 
 of thefe Magiflrales being the Copperas 
 which the Fire produces in them, as may 
 be feen and feparated from them, by any 
 >vho fhall pleafe to go about it, according 
 
 to 
 
( 1 73 ) 
 
 to the Rules that have been already de- 
 livered : Which feems to confirm what 
 Pliny lays, treating of Copper, namely, 
 that it is begotten of Stones burnt. 
 
 Tiiefe Magillrales are to be ufed with 
 the lame carefulnefs as hath been already 
 faid of the Materials •, namely they are to 
 be made Trial of before the incorporating 
 of the Caxon, that by thefe lefTer Enfays 
 it may be known what Proportion is fit to 
 be put into the Caxon, according to the 
 Number of Quintals it (hall contain *, for 
 if the Proportion do exceed, another 
 great Inconvenience will be produced 
 thereby, namely that which follows. 
 
 CHAP. LV. 
 
 In profecution of the Chapter foregoing. 
 
 A N Accident contrary to that menti- 
 oned in the former Chapter, and 
 an Occafion of great wafle of Quickfilver, 
 is of the Colour of Lead j that is to fay, 
 when it is affected with no other Material 
 Inconvenience, but only that of Difcolo- 
 ration ; and the Damage is the greater, 
 if the difcolouring have proceeded from 
 Copperas, and that there be much Quick- 
 filver divided, and running loofe about. 
 Quickfilver fqueezed out of the Lumps, is 
 I 3 very 
 
<174 ) 
 
 very round and lively ; if it be divided, 
 the Parts of it, although never fo fmall, 
 do not run into a cylindrical Figure, but 
 into a Spherical. This Mifchief is cured 
 by the contrary Materials, which as hath 
 been faid before, cleave unto the Quick Gi- 
 ver ; nevertheiefs the Medicine, which 
 by it’s particular Qualities, Attraction, 
 and natural Sympathy, cures this Evil, 
 is Iron *, which re-unites the QuickGlver, 
 and gathers it together into a Body after 
 it was dhToJved, corrupted, and, in a 
 Manner, turned into another Subftance by 
 the Copperas : Which dial 1 be treated of 
 more at large hereafter, when we. fpeak 
 of walhing the Caxons. 
 
 No certain Rule can be given, what 
 Quantity of Materials to put into the Cax- 
 ons, that have failed in the Operation ; 
 becaufe the Mifchief and the Caufes there- 
 of are not always the fanae. But this ge- 
 neral Rule mult be obferved, that they do 
 not repafs the Caxon with QuickGlver, 
 till they have Grit enfayed a fmall Quanti- 
 ty thereof, and thereby have underltood 
 what is neceflary. After that, let them 
 take a third or a fourth Part of the Caxon, 
 and mingle that with the whole Proporti- 
 on of the Materials, and ftir it well toge- 
 ther till it be very well mixed, and incor- 
 porated with another *, then mix this with 
 the reft of the Caxon, ftir them very well 
 
 to- 
 
( 1 75 ) 
 
 together *, for after this Manner the Me- 
 dicine will be bed, and with mod; Equality 
 didributed in the Caxon : Efpecially if 
 the Medicine to be put in, be very fmall in 
 Quantity. Have a care to ufe the Means 
 that is requifite to avoid falling into the 
 firfl/ Inconvenience of overcharging the 
 Quickfilver, and remedy the fecond Mif- 
 chief with all pofiible fpeed •, becaufe o- 
 therwife the Copperas will transform the 
 Quickfilver in fuch Manner, as if it were 
 quite eaten up and confumed. When en- 
 faying the Caxon, the Quickfilver is found 
 in the Bottom of the Purummia Veffel, di- 
 vided in fmall Grains not run together in 
 a Lump, it is a Sign the Refination is im- 
 peded, and that fome little harynefs, or 
 crifping encompadeth the Pellets of Quick- 
 filver, and hinders them uniting. The 
 Want of Materials is commonly the Caufe 
 of this, or elfe the over-much Allay of o- 
 ther Metals, which as well as the Plate 
 attrads the Quickfilver itfelf. Repafling, 
 the Relabillo burnt, by Reafon of it’s 
 fharp cutting Quality, is profitable to 
 cleanfe the Quickfilver. Some put in 
 Afhes, but the mod: proper and natural 
 Remedy for it, is that which they call 
 Millo or Allum, which makes the Silver 
 white, and is very ordinarily to be had in 
 great abundance amongft the Mines here 
 at Potoji ; and in Guaico de Santiago there 
 I 4 is 
 
C 176 ) 
 
 is a Spring that runs continually with this 
 Ailum Water. 
 
 When the Caxon hath not been repafled 
 equally, or not ferved with as muchQuick- 
 iilver as is neceflary, or in fome Places 
 doth not unite itfelf with other Parts of the 
 Quickfilver, that had gotten Plate al- 
 ready, the Caufe thereof is what they call 
 dry Plate : In Enfays you fhall fee it fwim 
 upon the Relabes crifped like Froth, and 
 it it be not skimmed off, and faved be- 
 fore the cleanfing the Caxon, it will 
 fwim at the top, and run away with the 
 Lamas to the great Detriment of him 
 that owns the Oar. If the Quickfilver be 
 dry, having neverthelefs Materials fuffici- 
 ent with it, it is no Inconvenience at all* 
 becaufe it will unite one with another the 
 better, orelfe that Part which the Mate- 
 rials pofTeffed, being wafted away, the o- 
 ther moift Parts remain in the Qjickfil- 
 ver to unite itfelf with the reft of the Pel- 
 lets. That dry Plate which wants Mate- 
 rials, cannot fafely be gathered together 
 by loofe Quickfilver, until the Caxon be 
 ready for cleanfing •, the proper Remedy 
 for this is to repafs the Caxon with Pellets 
 of Silver, not over fmall, fo fhall the dry 
 Plate be collected together, and the great- 
 eft Part of the Lis alfo, if there were any 
 there. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( 1 77 ) 
 
 CHAP. LVI. 
 
 How to know whether er no the Caxon be 
 ready for wajhing. 
 
 rp HERE can no certain time be 
 prefixed, wherein one is obliged to 
 wafh the Caxons. It’s Maturity is haft- 
 ened by frequent Repaflings by the out- 
 ward Heat of the Air, and the inward 
 H eat of the Copper or Copperas, and 
 other Things of that kind of Virtue, and 
 fuch as clear and purify the Silver; a 
 principal Caufe whereof is the burning of 
 Metals. On the contrary, the Work of 
 Refining is prolonged and flackened by 
 fewer Repafiings, if the Air be cold or 
 Frofl, if the Caxon be over foul, that the 
 Quickfilver lofes it’s clearnefs in pa (Ting 
 through : Bat letting pafs thefe, and o- 
 ther Accidents, let us come to the Point 
 of gathering out the clear Silver mixed 
 with Qaickfilver, leaving the Earth be- 
 hind, which is called wafhing the Caxon, 
 whereunro no fmall Experience is necefia- 
 ry : For if the Caxon be not right for 
 wafhing, that Plate which the Quickfil- 
 ver hath not laid hold on, is likely to be 
 utterly loft, or if it be not, it muff be 
 ground over again, fo that at lead: one 
 I 5 lofts 
 
(178) 
 
 lofes much time and Labour, and Silver 
 too in the Repaflings, befides other Haz- 
 ards. 
 
 The Rules hitherto delivered for the 
 Difcovery of the Difpofition of the Caxon 
 are fubjeCt to very great Error ; fuch as 
 it’s appearing fo well to Sight as if there 
 were need of no more Quickfilver i to find 
 the his of the Plate all gathered together 
 and finifhed, and that of the Quickfilver 
 beginning to come ; the Subfiance of the 
 Plate, and Quickfilver being clear, and 
 gilded as it were with other Signs, all of 
 which do not fecure the Judgment from 
 being erroneous, becaufe thefe may be 
 produced by other Accidents befides the 
 Maturity of the Caxon. The only fure 
 and infallible Sign is to fee whether the 
 Quickfilver hath gotten all the Plate, 
 which it ought to do according to the 
 Proportion fhewed by the lefler Enfay of 
 Fire, which was made at the begining, 
 and if it hath not arrived to that, although 
 it hath many more good Signs than hath 
 been already mentioned, wafh not the 
 Caxon ; but take more fmall Enlays 
 thereof, whereby you fhall eafily prove 
 what Plate it contains, and what Remedy 
 is neceffary to bring it to full Perfection : 
 Which when it is attained, and the refi- 
 ned Subfiance alone contains the aforefaid 
 Proportion of Quickfilver and Pellet, ftrow 
 
 fome 
 
( 1 79 ) 
 
 fome QyickJUvet loofe upon it, and there^ 
 with gently repafs it two or three times in 
 ftich Manner as it may go into the Cop- 
 per better bathed, in the Proportion of 
 three Pans Pellet, and two of Quickjilver : 
 Or at leaft two of Pellet and one of Quick- 
 Jilver. Then gather up fome of the Lis 
 that remains, and put it to the dry Plate, 
 and to the whole Mafs of Pellet, whereby 
 they will be more weighty, and fink bet- 
 ter to the B attorn of the Caldron, and will 
 rife and wade lefs in the boiling. Throw 
 Quickftlver alfo loofe into the Caldron 
 ( which they call a Bath $) when it begins 
 to be liquid, incorporate therewith that 
 which the Caxon contained, and it will 
 help to unite it the better •, and the more 
 Quickfilver there was, the fewer Inequali- 
 ties like Oyfter-fhells will be produced. 
 
 CHAP. LVIX. 
 
 Lhat the wajhing of the C axons caufeth the 
 Lofs and JVafte of Quickfilver . 
 
 A LL the Inconveniences that are and 
 have been found in the Wafle of 
 Qickfilver, which they term either Lois 
 or Confumption of it, are caufed by the 
 wafhing the Caxons : Until then nothing 
 hath been loft > however, one may be de- 
 ceived 
 
( 180 ) 
 
 ceived in judging by the View even on 
 Occafions, that have iometimes happened 
 and may happen again ; that they find nei- 
 ther Quickfilver nor Pellet of incorporated 
 Metal in the Caxon. For Accidents alone 
 as hath been faid, cannot alter the Quick- 
 filver fo as to corrupt and deftroy it’s Sub- 
 ftance ^ in the Caxon it is howfoever more 
 or lefs difpofed to get out imperceptibly 
 with the Water or with the Lamas. The 
 immediate Caufe of this Mifchief, is when 
 the Quickfilver is made over thin without 
 Body or Weight as it were * fo that it hath 
 nothing to fink it to the Bottom of the 
 Caldron ; and with the ftirring the Caxon 
 when they wafh it, it mixeth itfelf with the 
 Dregs and Dirt, and goes along with them, 
 and there wants more or lefs of the Quick- 
 filver which they put in at firft, according 
 to their better or worfe ftirring the Caxon 
 and Quantity of Lis. It hath been a great 
 Error in thofe, that becaufe for fo many 
 Years the belt Refiners in thefe Kingdoms 
 have wafted at the lead fo much Quickfil- 
 ver, as they have gotten Plate, therefore 
 the Quickfilver is really and truly confum- 
 ed in the Operation, not animadverting 
 the Evidence to the contrary, which con- 
 tinually pafTeth thro 5 their Hands ; name- 
 ly in the Lamas and Relics of the Caxon 
 where the Quickfilver hath oftentimes 
 ftaict 'behind, accompanied with a con- 
 
 fiderable 
 
( ) 
 
 fiderable Quantity of Plate ! Which 
 the Owners of Oar have experimented 
 to their great Damage, and the Bayers 
 and Refiners of the Relics of the Caxon 
 to their great Profit and Advantage. O- 
 thers fpeaking philofophicaMy lay, the 
 Caufe of the Confumption of the Quick- 
 filver proceeds from the Contention ard 
 Combat, which it hath with contrary Qua- 
 lities before it can lay hold on the Plate *, 
 and that thereby it is debilitated and con- 
 fumed. Thefe Men fay fomething to the 
 Purpofe, if they could demonflrate the 
 contrary Qualities that are between Qjick- 
 filver and other Metals, between whom 
 there is rather a great Sympathy and A- 
 greement, Quickfilver being the Principal 
 whereof all other Metals are made, and al- 
 fo of the Minerals that ordinarily do ac- 
 company them ; but if thefe Men cannot 
 prove the Caufe, neither will the Effe6l 
 which they fuppofe, namely the Deftruc- 
 tion of Quickfilver follow: And there is 
 certain Experience to the contrary, and 
 hereafter fhall be fhewed a Way how to 
 recover all the Quickfilver, even out of 
 the Caxon, that is moft fpoiled in Opera- 
 tion, and fo moft difficult to do it in. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
( ) 
 
 CHAP. LVIII. 
 
 The true Caufes of the Lofs of Quickft!ver y 
 and their Remedies . 
 
 HE Repaffings are the remote Caufe 
 
 of wafting of the Quickfilver, which 
 is thereby drained and divided into very* 
 fmall Parts which they call Lis : And al- 
 tho* into whatfoever Oar, Earth or Sand, 
 you throw^Qaickfilver, and repafs it, you 
 fhall find the Effect aforefaid, yet it is moft 
 of all experimented in thole Oars which 
 are called Soroches ; which by theirWeight 
 and glalfy Quality, do more cafily ait a- 
 funder and divide the Quickfilver into mi- 
 nute Parts. 
 
 Copperas is of it’s own Nature a violent 
 Caufe of extenuating the §uickfilver y as 
 hath been often faid ; and hath been the 
 Caufe of the Wafte of, the greateftPart of 
 the Quickjilver that hath been deftroyed. 
 There be other Caufes, which accompany 
 and affift the two former in working this 
 ill Effe6t : One is the Salt which they ufe 
 in refining, and wherewith they walk the 
 Caxons, which every Body knows thickens 
 Water, whereby not only the fmall Lis of 
 §uickfilver y but alfo heavier Things fwim 
 
 and cannot fink to the Bottom, 
 
 & „ _ - 
 
 The 
 
( i8 3 ) 
 
 The Lamas which is mingled with the 
 Water, and troubles it in the Caldron, 
 thickens it, and doth yet more refill the 
 finking of the ^uickfilver which Hays and 
 is thrown away together with it. 
 
 Laftly, the Motion of the Inflrument 
 wherewith they (lir the Caxon when they 
 wafli it by condenfing the Force of the 
 Caufes afore faid, hinders the Lis from 
 finking*, and croudeth it up to the Top. 
 The ordinary Repaffings in this Way of 
 Refining cannot be wholly excufed in this 
 Matter *, but if the Rules already taught 
 be carefully obferved, the Damage will be 
 the lefs. Likewife already hath been 
 fhewed the Way to clear Oar from the 
 Copperas, and to clear the Margagita’s 
 from their heavy and glalTy Qualities. Salt 
 may be gotten out of the Caxon s two fe- 
 veral Ways, and prefer ved forUfe to the 
 Saving of many Ducats a Year, now com- 
 monly lpent in that Commodity. Put the 
 Oar into Caxons made fmooth and round 
 on the Infide without Corners or Angles 
 as is oftep ufed *, Jet them Hand a little 
 (loping, only fo much as is neeeffary, that 
 all the Water may run to one Part of it; 
 where there mud be a Hole for it to run 
 out at in convenient Seafon, but ordinari- 
 ly kept (lopp’d. When the Caxon is rea- 
 dy for wafliing, fill it with Abundance of 
 [Water, opening and flirring about the Oar 
 
 with 
 
( *84 ) 
 
 with the Hove, that the Water .may pene- 
 trate through it the better: And having 
 done fo a pretty while, open the Hole, 
 and let the Water out into a VdTel provi- 
 ded on Purpofe to receive it ; where it will 
 either congeal into Salt, or remain in Li- 
 quor as it is, and will be ferviceable for 
 the Operation of other Caxons. Repeat 
 this two or three times until the Water 
 that comes out d )th not tafte brackifh. If 
 the Caxon was to have been wafhed in 
 three Caldrons, wafh it in fix, whereby 
 the Water will come out twice as clear, 
 and with very little Mud or Sediment. 
 
 The Peftle wherewith they ftir the Ca- 
 xon, muft not be ufed always in the fame 
 Hand, becaufe the Circles going con flan t- 
 ]y parallel, the fmall Parts of the Quick- 
 filver, and the dry Plate go along toge- 
 ther with them ; and never encounter one 
 another to unite themfelves into a bigger 
 Body that they may fink to the Bottom, 
 Wherefore after five or fix Turns with the 
 right Hand, take as many more with the 
 left, and fo proceed ; and becaufe this can- 
 not fo conveniently be done in the ordina- 
 ry wafhing Places, put into the Caldron a 
 Thing like a broad Peel, which oppofite 
 to the Courfe and Motion of the Peflle 
 may difturb the March of the Quickfilver 
 and dry Plate , and caufe all the Coa- 
 tent of the Veffel to meet and unite; 
 
 excepting 
 
( l8 5 ) 
 
 excepting that which is at the Bottom, 
 whereof there is no Neeeffity, becaufe of 
 the Bath which it is to fuffer. Cover the 
 Vefifel with Plates of Copper, or Iron 
 quick filvered, to which Side foever of the 
 Vefifel the Lis comes : It may {lick there- 
 unto, when the Caxon is walked ; the Lis 
 is eafily gotten together, by fweeping the 
 Sides of the Vefifel with a Piece of Shoe 
 Leather, a Piece bf a Hat, or a Piece of 
 Cloath. 
 
 CHAP. LIX. 
 
 To make the fine Apples , and to clear them 
 of the Quickftlver . 
 
 H Aving taken the Plate and Qaick- 
 filver together out of the Caldron, 
 and {training it through two coarfe Clothes 
 wetted, to make them the thicker •, hav- 
 ing beaten it alfo with a Battledoor to 
 fqueeze as much Quickfilver through the 
 Clothes as is pofiible : Make Pine Apples 
 of the dry Pellets in Moulds fitted for 
 that Purpofe *, which are called PineApples 
 from their Similitude to that Fruit by rea- 
 fon of their pyramidal Figure : And of 
 thofe Pines that have been reafonably well 
 {trained, the fifth Part will be Silver, fo 
 that one hundred Pound of Pellets will 
 
 pro 
 
(. 86 ) 
 
 produce twenty Pound Weight of Silver. 
 The Pines that are made of richer Oar a- 
 rife to lefs Profit than thofe that are made 
 of poorer, becaufe the Plate in the richer 
 Oar is more coarfe and fpungy, than that 
 which is contained in the poorer. In the 
 ftraining of the Quickfilver though never 
 fo carefully, fome fmall Parts of Silver 
 will go along with it, and the more in 
 Quantity by how much the moreMoifture 
 there was in the Pellets when they began 
 to ftrain them : The like whereof is feen 
 in Water mixed with Clay, which altho* 
 it be (trained with never lb much Care, 
 will not look clear and pure, but muddy 
 and troubled, by reafon of it*s Mixture 
 with the Dirt ; and the greater Quantity 
 of Water there was, the more Dirt ftrains 
 through along with it*, but letting it ftand 
 quietly awhile, it will fettle and gather it- 
 felf together, and leave the Water clear. 
 In like Manner, in the Veffels wherein 
 they preferve the Quickfilver after they 
 have done refining, and made the Pine 
 Apples, after a few Days the Pellets of 
 Silver will fettle and gather into a Body 
 together. In the refining Work of St Ca- 
 tharine's in the Lipes out of the Veffel, 
 wherein they kept their Quickfilver, I faw 
 as much Plate gotten of the Kind afore- 
 faid, as would have made a great Pine 
 Apple. 
 
 If 
 
( -s-rt 
 
 If the Quickfilver be heated, it becomes 
 thinner, and will carry away more Silver 
 in the Straining j alio when the Pellets are 
 ftrained, that are gotten by boiling, altho* 
 it be done with very much Care, yet Plate 
 will pafs along with the Quickfilver ; and 
 if you will let it Hand a Day’s Time to cool 
 and fettle, and flrain it again, you will 
 get more Pellets of Silver. 
 
 The Lofs in clearing the Oar again 
 from the Quickfilver hath been great and 
 irrecoverable, as may be gueffed from the 
 Experiment thereof in this imperial City 
 at this prefent, when the trading in Me- 
 tals runs but low : And yet communibus 
 minis above thirty thoufand Pieces of Eight 
 are wafted by the Expence of Quickfilver. 
 How vaft a Sum then hath been fpent by 
 Qyickfilver, in the many other very rich 
 Mines belonging to this Kingdom. This 
 Inconvenience hath proceeded from want 
 of Care in feeing that the Cannons and 
 Caperucas (which are the Names of the 
 VdTels they ufe in the recovering the 
 Quickfilver) be made of very good Stuff, 
 and fhut curioufly clofe in the Place where 
 they join together. The Clay whereof 
 ufually they are made is very fpungy and 
 full of Pores, fo that the Water foaks 
 through and fweats out at them ; then it 
 is no Wonder that the Quickfilver 
 attenuated by the Violence of the Fire 
 
 which 
 
( >88 ) 
 
 ( which widens the Pores of the Veflel alfo) 
 evaporates through the fame, and is ex- 
 haled and loft. To fay that any Part of 
 the Quickfilver is deftroyed or perifheth 
 by the Heat of the Fire is only the Imagi- 
 nation of thofe that underftand not the 
 Uniformity of it’s Subftance, as hath been 
 fhewed before. Make the Caperucas and 
 Cannons of fuch Stuff as you make the 
 Crucibles, and that Inconvenience will 
 ceafe, and the Veffels will laft for ever 
 (becaufe they are fo mightily condenfed 
 and refill the Fire) unlefs fome accidental 
 Blow or Knock do break them. In that 
 noble Town of St Phillippi of Aujlria , O- 
 ruro , famous for Abundance of Mines 
 both of Gold and Silver, on the Top of 
 a little Hill which ftands above the 
 Church of the Ranqiteria , there is a lit- 
 tle Vein of white Earth, whereof they 
 make Veffels for Ufe, which after they 
 are baked become fo clofe and firm that 
 they are not inferior to the beft China. I 
 was the firft that made trial and publifh- 
 ed the ufefulnefs of it for the making of 
 Crucibles with very good Succefs to thofe 
 that had need of them. And I do not 
 doubt but there is fisch Kind of Earth a- 
 bout this City of Potoft , where nothing 
 hath been found wanting that any wife be- 
 longed to the obtaining or refining of that 
 Abundance of Riches, which Nature hath 
 
 be- 
 
( i8 9 ) 
 
 beftowed upon it: Although hitherunto 
 much Bufinefs, and a ftiort time of abode 
 here, hath hindered me from finding of 
 it out. But where fuch Kind of Earth is 
 wanting, mingle the Clay, whereof you 
 make thefe Vefiels, the better with the 
 Scum or Drofs of Iron ground very fine, 
 and make it up and bake it very well *, 
 and there fhall not be fo much Quickfil- 
 ver loft in the Ufe of them as is by thofe 
 now in common Ufe. The Cannons muft 
 be glazed on the Infide, the Caperucas 
 not ; becaufe the violent Heat will melt 
 the Glafing, and make it run. 
 
 CHAP. LX. 
 
 Other fafer Ways of clearing the Pine -Apples 
 from Quickfdver . 
 
 T H E beft Vefiels for this Purpofe 
 are made of Iron or Copper beaten 
 to the Thicknefs of a Piece of Eight, or 
 fomewhat thinner *, and for more Security, 
 that the Vefiels may the better endure the 
 Fire, they cover the Copper Veflel with 
 a Coat of good earthen Ware on the out- 
 fide. Not many Years ago fome Peo- 
 ple began to ufe thefe Copper Vefiels cafed 
 with earthen Ware, and left them off a- 
 gain, becaufe they underftood not the 
 Nature of them, nor how to ufe them. 
 The like happened in the Province of the 
 
 Chi das 
 
 i 
 
( * 9 ° ) 
 
 ChkkaSj which cafed thei r refining Vefiels 
 as above faid, becaufe they heard that in 
 their Neighbourhood in the Lipes I was 
 working after that Manner. The Caufe 
 of thefe Miftakes flia.ll be fhewed in the 
 Difcourfe which follows. 
 
 The fhorteft, beft, and moft fecure 
 Way of clearing the Pine Apples from 
 Quickfilver is in this Manner. Make a 
 deep Veflel of Iron wider at the Top than 
 at the Bottom, containing more or lefs 
 according to the Quantity of Metal in- 
 tended to be cleared at one Time : Set it 
 upon a Trevet of ftrong earthen Ware, or 
 of Iron cafed with Earth in a Furnace of 
 fufficient Bignefs to put Wood or Coals 
 under it, as Occafion fhall require at a 
 Mouth made for that Purpofe. The reft 
 of that Furnace both the Top, Bottom, 
 and Sides is to be very clofe •, excepting 
 one little Hole at the Top where it fhall 
 be found moft convenient to give Refpi- 
 ration. Difpofe the Veflel aforefaid in 
 fuch Manner as they do that which they 
 call the Cannon in the ordinary Way of 
 ufing Quickfilver *, fo that it may look 
 out above the Top of the Furnace one 
 large Finger’s Breadth or two, that it 
 may the better join with another 
 Veflel to be put a-top of it, w T hich may 
 ferve inftead of the Caperuca. Put the 
 Pellet (or Metal aforefaid) well kneaded 
 
 toge- 
 
( J 9i ) 
 
 together in Cakes of what Form you 
 pleafe into the Veftel, and left the Plate 
 fhould melt and (tick to the Iron Veil'd, 
 let it have a thin Coat on the Infide of 
 earthenWare*, or fuch as Crucibles are 
 made of. Cover this Veftel with a large 
 Limbeck Head made of Hammer’d Iron, 
 or Copper, or of very good earthen Ware 
 well glaz’d ; and out of it draw a long 
 Pipe a little (loping, the Cavity whereof 
 in the narrowed Place, namely the Ex- 
 tremity, let be no Idler, than the Bignefs 
 of one’s little Finger. Let the joining of 
 the Limbeck with the Veftel below it, be 
 (topped very clofe with gait*, then in a 
 fecure Place, that doth not feel the Heat 
 of the Furnace, let there be placed a 
 great Veftel of Stone or of other Matter 
 full of cold Water ; whereinto let the 
 Nofe of the Limbeck enter two Finger’s 
 Breadth. Blow up the Fire in the Fur- 
 nace, from which the Quickfilver flying 
 in the Form of Vapours to the Top of the 
 Limbek, the Coolnefs thereof prefently 
 reduceth it into a Body again, which runs 
 down through the Nofe into the Veftel of 
 Water aforefaid. The Limbeck fhould 
 now and then be cooled on the Outflde 
 with whet Clotes, and the Water into 
 which the Quickfilver falls as it becomes 
 warm (hould have more frelh Water add- 
 ed to it. 
 
 Here 
 
( * 9 * ) 
 
 Here place the Cuts. 
 
 A . The deep Veffel of Iron, or Cop- 
 per. 
 
 B. The Head of the Limbeck. 
 
 C. TheNofeof it. 
 
 D. ATrevet. 
 
 E. A Bafon or Veffel of Water to re- 
 ceive the Quickftlver in. 
 
 F. The Furnace. 
 
 G. The Mouth of it. 
 
 H. The Hole to draw out the Allies at. * 
 
 I. A Hole open at the Top of the Fur- 
 nace whereat the deep Iron Veffel looks 
 out a little, and is joined to the Limbeck. 
 
 K. Is a Chimney to let out Smoak and 
 give Refpiration to the Fire. 
 
 The Trouble and Hazard of keeping 
 them dole in the Joint with Clay or Galt, 
 may be excufed by making the Place 
 where they (hut one upon the other a 
 handful and a half higher-, or if to that 
 Size of them, that is now in Ufe they 
 put at the Bottom on the outftde, and fill 
 it two Fingers broad, fo that the lower 
 Veffel may come up very clofe upon it, 
 and cannot enter further into it. A little 
 lower than the Caperucas come are placed 
 the Can d left ick Foot, as they call it, 
 whereupon they fet the Plate and the Pine 
 
 Apple. 
 
( *93 ) 
 
 Apple. The Candleffick foot comes up 
 about four Fingers higher than the Mouth 
 of the lower Veffel, which they call the 
 Cannon, in the which on the one Side 
 four or fix Fingers lower than the Fire u- 
 fed to be, enters in a fmall Pipe of cold 
 Water at a Hole made for that Purpofe in 
 the Cannon without difturbing the Cape- 
 ruca at all, becaufe it is not to go in ftrait, 
 but with a little Liberty ; over againft 
 this Hole there is fuch another, out of 
 which runs as much Water as enters in at 
 the former, whereby the Cannon is al- 
 ways kept full, and the Water in good 
 Temper to receive the Quickfilver with- 
 out any Prejudice. 
 
 If one feparates the Quickfilver by the 
 Limbeck, they may do the fame Thing, 
 clapping a Ring of Copper of two Fin- 
 gers Breadth, and other two Fingers deep 
 to the Mouth of the lower Veffel*, fb that 
 the other Veffel may eafily be let in and 
 out, wherein the Quickfilver is to befav- 
 ed. Into this Circle the Limbeck muff 
 be fitted ; and to prevent it’s being 
 blown off with the Force of the Vapour 
 of the Quickfilver, the Limbeck muff be 
 kept down with Weight on the Top of 
 it, or tying it to fome other fixed Thing; 
 or making a Ring on the Top of the 
 Limbeck, pafs a Bar of Iron through it, 
 both Ends whereof afterwards remaining 
 K fixed 
 
( *94 ) 
 
 fixed in two Walls built on each Side of 
 it for that Purpofe* 
 
 C H A P. LXI. 
 
 Wherein is demonfir ated the natural Caufe of 
 the Generation and Production of Moun- 
 tains and Metals : JVherehy the Seekers 
 may obtain a good competent Meafure of 
 Knowledge to guide them where to feek for 
 the other External Signs . 
 
 S OLOMON faith that Hope deferred 
 breaks the Heart *, but the Defire obtain- 
 ed , is a Tree of Life : If Hope only defer’d 
 break the Heart ; then Hope fruft rated 
 muft needs break it a great deal more. 
 
 To the End therefore that our Hope 
 may not be too frequently fruftrated, I 
 will firft declare the Places where there is 
 no Probability to find out Metals, and af- 
 terwards I will fhew where there is ftrong 
 Probability : And then in the next Chap- 
 ter I will fhew how to go about the 
 Work, to find out the ftrong Signs which 
 may rightly guide the Seekers to obtain 
 their Defire. 
 
 And firft, there is no Probability that a- 
 ny Metals can be generated near unto the 
 North and South Poles of the Globe, for 
 thofe can by no Means have a convenient 
 
 Ma- 
 
( >95 ) 
 
 Matrix for fuch a Generation, being by 
 all Probabilities nothing but two Iflands 
 of Ice; for if they were any Thing elfe 
 the Courfe of Nature mull needs alter, and 
 change, and run prefently out of Order. 
 
 For as there is in the burning Zones a 
 continual Exhalation of Water, and rati- 
 fying the fame into the Air : So there 
 mud needs be in the North and South a 
 continual Condenlation of Air into Water 
 to fjpply the fame again, elfe the Motion 
 cannot be perpetually circular. 
 
 Now whereas the North and South 
 Parts, by Reafon of their Coldnefs, can- 
 not fuffcr the faid condenfed Meteors ro 
 defeend in Form of Water, but in the 
 Form of Snow, Hail, or fome Subfiance 
 of like Nature, which there cannot melt 
 in the Superficies for Want of Heat, it is 
 very probable that the new Accretion this 
 Way produced, doth prefs down flill 
 with it’s Weight the faid Iflands of Ice 
 towards the Center, where the central 
 Heat melteth it off continually, by which 
 Means the fpherical Form of both Eearth 
 and Water are perpetually preferved. 
 
 And if any Man be of a contrary Opi- 
 nion, I will not envy him ; but as for my 
 own Part, I will fell my Interefl and 
 Hope of Metals in thofe Places for a Far- 
 thing, although I had a Device that the 
 Cold there could not prevent my feeking 
 for them. K 2 Alfo 
 
( l 9<> ) 
 
 Alfo in Vallies and plain Champain Coun- 
 tries, there is no Hope to prolper in this 
 Defign, for the Womb of fuch Earth is 
 not apt for fuch a Generation, the Rea- 
 ions whereof will prefen tly follow. 
 
 Now that we have left no other Places 
 to feek in but the rocky Mountains, I 
 will fpend the reft of this Chapter in de- 
 monftrating the natural Caufe of the Ge- 
 neration of Rocks, Mountains, and Me- 
 tals, and fo proceed forward. 
 
 And firft, I will fet down the Opinion 
 of others with their Confutation ; and laft- 
 ]y, the Confirmation of my own Opinion 
 by irrefragable Demonftration. 
 
 Some have thought that the mighty 
 Creator made the vaft, deformed, and 
 craggy Rocks and Mountains in the Be- 
 ginning. But this appeareth to be an O- 
 pinion, whereby great Dishonour may re- 
 flect upon the. Creator, who befides his 
 Omnipotent Power, doth continually 
 make ufe of his admirable Wifdom, and 
 exquifite Artifice in all his Works, and 
 made nothing deformed and unfit for the 
 ufe for which it was created : Now the 
 Earth being ordained to bear Fruits for 
 the Ufe of Man, and Rocks are not fit 
 for that Purpofe, it plainly appeareth that 
 they came not by Accident. 
 
 Some others have thought that they 
 came by Accident, but yet that they 
 
 were 
 
( *97 ) 
 
 Were produced by Accretion in Leng'h of 
 Time, even as Warts, Tumours, Wens, 
 and Excrefcences are engendred in the Su- 
 perficies of Mens Bodies : And of this O- 
 pinion I myfelf was in my Minority, till 
 fuch Time as by practical Experience I 
 found out a more probable Opinion. 
 
 Now for a plain Demonflration, let this 
 Experiment following be tried, and I 
 make no Queftion, but that it will fatisfy 
 every one that hath an inquifitive Difpo- 
 fition. 
 
 Let there be had a great Retort of 
 Glafs, and let the fame be half filled with 
 Brimflone, Sea-coal* and as many bitumi- 
 nous and fulphurous fubteraneal Subfiances 
 as can be had : Then fill the Neck there- 
 of half full with the moft free Earth from 
 Stones that can be found, but thrufl it not 
 in too hard, then let it be luted, and fet 
 in an open Furnace to diflil with a tempe- 
 rate Fire, which may only kindle the faid 
 Subfiances, and if you work exquifitely, 
 you fhall find the faid Earth petrified, 
 and turned into a Stone : You fhall alfo 
 find Cracks and Chinks in it, filled with 
 the mofl tenacious, clammy, and vifcuous 
 Parts of the faid Vapours, which afcend- 
 ed from the fubteraneal combuflible Sub- 
 fiances. 
 
 Whereby it appeareth that the fame 
 Thing is done by Nature, and that the 
 K 3 Rocks 
 
( * 9 8 ) 
 
 Rocks and craggy Mountains are caufed 
 by the Vapours and bituminous and ful- 
 phurous Subftances kindled in the Bowels 
 of the Earth, of which there be divers fo 
 well known, that they need not be here 
 mentioned : , Alfo it appeareth that the 
 Veins of Metals are engendered in the 
 Cracks and Crannies of the faid Moun- 
 tains, out of the molt clammy and gluti- 
 nous Part of the faid Vapours there ad- 
 hering, where the Cold gave them Leave 
 to be congealed and condenfed. 
 
 Now concerning the Exaltation of the 
 Mountains above the Vallies, it appeareth 
 to come to pafs by the Water in former 
 Times, whofe Property is to wear away 
 by it’s Motion the moft loofe Earth, and 
 to leave the more firm Ground, and roc- 
 ky Places higheft ; but whether this was 
 done by Noah's Flood, or by the Sea in 
 former Ages, is doubted. As for my O- 
 pinion, I refer the Reader to my Book 
 formerly mentioned, and if any Man be 
 in Doubt of this, let him take the Stone 
 formerly made by Art, and place it fo, 
 that the Motion of the Water may work 
 upon it, and you fhall find it worn moll 
 in the loofefl Places, and leaft in the more 
 firm compared Places ; thereby fhewing 
 the natural Caufe of Mountains and Val- 
 lies. Alfo if a River fhould be turned 
 out of it 5 s Courfe, and the Bottom there- 
 of 
 
( * 99 ) 
 
 of accurately confidered upon, how the 
 Water by it's Motion hath worn away the 
 Earth moft in the loofe ft Earth, and lead 
 in that which is more firm, it doth evi- 
 dently demonftrate the natural Caufe of 
 Hills and Vallies, and the Unevennefs of 
 the Earth caufed by the Motion of the Sea 
 in former Ages. 
 
 CHAP. LXII. 
 
 Wherein is fhewn the Signs of Mines and 
 Minerals , with the Manner how to work 
 to find the fame . 
 
 HEN we come to the rocky and 
 
 craggy Mountains, the firfi; Thing 
 we are to obferve, is the Barrennefs of 
 them ; for the more barren they are, the 
 greater Probability there is that they con- 
 tain rich Mines and Minerals. 
 
 The next Work is to find out theSprings 
 of Water ifluing out of the faid Mountains* 
 and thofe being found, a Quantity of the 
 Paid Water is to be boiled in a new clean 
 Pipkin, to the Confiftency of thin Oil* 
 but not fo thick as a Sirrup, and when it 
 is almoft cold, then to put it in an Urinal, 
 and to fet it in the coldeft Place that can 
 be found for three Days, then to play the 
 Phyfician, and to obferve it exquifitely 
 
 K 4 
 
 what 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 what Refidence it yieldeth : If nothing 
 fettle but a black Earth or Mud, it is a 
 Sign of Coals : If fome Part thereof 
 ihoot into Ice, or a Subftance like Ice or 
 Vitriol, then to obferve the Colour there- 
 of; if it be green or blueifh, it is an evi- 
 dent Sign of Copper ; if whitifh, then it 
 may fignify any other Metal without Ex- 
 ception. 
 
 The next Work is to go to the bare 
 Rocks, and there to find out the Clifts, 
 Cracks, and Crannies; this done, to go 
 to the Top, or till you find fome Grafs 
 growing right upon the Top of the faid 
 Crannies ; and then to obferve diligently 
 the Kind of that Grafs, and how it differ- 
 eth from other Grafs, ordinarily growing 
 in the fame Mountain ; not only in Form, 
 but alfo in Colour, which Colour fheweth 
 the greateft Difference in the Heat of Sum- 
 mer ; for the fubteraneal Vapours iffuing 
 out of the Orifice of Mines differ from 
 thofe which iffue out of more folid Places 
 of the Mountains. 
 
 The next Work is to fee if there be any 
 Marcafites to be found in the Superficies 
 of the faid Mountains; which tho* they 
 are ufually of divers Colours, and feldom 
 good for any Thing, yet they are ftrong 
 Signs of Minerals within, being themfelves 
 the Spume and Froth of the better Metals, 
 
 breathed 
 
( 201 ) 
 
 breathed forth, even as Drink breatheth 
 up it’s Yeft or Froth to the Superficies. 
 
 And if they be put in an ordinary Fire, 
 they will turn black, and yield a Smell of 
 Brimftone , Arfenic , Antimony , or fome o- 
 ther Thing, commonly called or known 
 by the Name of a middle Mineral, 
 
 The next Work is to try the Operation 
 with the Virgida divina , as beneath is de- 
 clared •, and where it fhcweth the ftrong- 
 eft Signs, as is likewife beneath taught, 
 and alfo the Place is mod accompanied 
 with the other Signs formerly mentioned; 
 there, by digging or boring, try your 
 Fortunes. _ 
 
 The Operation with the Virgula divina 
 is thus to be performed : Some obferve a 
 fet Day and Hour, with certain Words 
 and Ceremonies at the cutting up of the 
 fame, which I have found to be little to 
 the Purpofe. Thus I wrought about Mid- 
 fummer in a calm Morning : I cut up a 
 Rod of Hafel, all of the fame Spring’s 
 Growth, almoft a Yard long ; then I tied 
 it to my Staff, in the Middle, with a ftrong 
 Thread, fo that it did hang even, like the 
 Beam of a Balance: Thus I carried it up 
 and down the Mountains where Lead 
 growed, and before Noon it guided me to 
 the Orifice of a Lead-Mine, which I try- 
 ed, having one with me with aHatchet of 
 Iron and a Spade ; and within two Hours 
 K 5 we 
 
( 202 ) 
 
 we found a Vein of Lead Oar, within lefs 
 than a Foot of the Grafs: TheSigns that 
 it fheweth is to bow down the Root-End 
 towards the Earth, as th© 5 it woiil 4 grow 
 there, near unto the Orifice of a Mine * 
 when you fee it does 10, you muff carry it 
 round about the Place, to fee that it turn- 
 eth in the String Fill to the fame Place, 
 on which Side foever you (land. 
 
 The Reafon of this Attraction I con- 
 ceived to be of Kin to the Load-flone, 
 drawing Iron to it by a fecret Virtue, in- 
 bred by Nature, and not by any Conjura- 
 tion, as fome have fondly imagin’d. 
 
 And the Reafon of this my Opinion 
 was, becaufe that in divers of my practi- 
 cal Experiments I have obferved an At- 
 traction betwixt feveral Things, like that 
 of the Load-ftone and Iron ; and if it were 
 to good Purpofe, I fuppofe that I could 
 ihew more Experience of that Kind than 
 any Man in England . 
 
 Now in the new Plantations, as New- 
 England , Virginia , Bermudas , &c. where 
 it is like that few or none have ever try’d, 
 that had any Skill in thefe Affairs, it is ve- 
 ry probable that the Orifice of divers 
 Mines may be difeerned with the Eye in 
 the Clifts of the Rocks in many Places, 
 as fome have been in England at the firft, 
 before that Men grew a little fkilful, and 
 thefe to be loft and neglected, were a Shame 
 
 to 
 
C 203 } 
 
 r.o the Planters y for the fe Mines if they 
 prove rich, would yield more Gain in one 
 Year, than their Tobacco* and fuch Tri- 
 fles would yield in their whole Lives, 
 
 C IT A P. LXIII. 
 
 Now that we are come to the melting and re** 
 fining of Metals , I will begin fir ft with' 
 the Oar of Lead, becaufe that is one of 
 the moft common Metals found in thefe 
 Northern Countries . 
 
 T H E flrftWork therefore to be done y 
 is to have a little Grate of Iron a- 
 bout a Foot broad, like fuch as are ufed 
 in a Still to make the Fire upon : This is 
 to be placed in your Chimney-Corner with 
 loofe Bricks* one Thicknefs underneath, 
 and empty in the Middle, to give Air to 
 the Fire ; then lay more Bricks above four 
 Couries high, round about, and if they be 
 laid without Morter, the Fire will burn 
 the better *, then fill it with Charcoals 
 kindled, in the Midft whereof fet your 
 Melting-pot, v/ith one Pound of Lead 
 Oar, and four Ounces of the Filings of 
 Iron mingled together, and fo blow to it 
 ftrongly with a Pair of good Hand-bel- 
 lows, till it be well melted down y 
 then let the Pot be taken out with a Pair 
 
 of 
 
( 204 ) 
 
 of Tongs, and let to cool, when it is 
 cold, break it, and knock off the brittle 
 Cinder lying upon the Top of the Metal 
 with an Hammer, till none be left but the. 
 malleable Metal, which you may aftay and 
 refine in the Manner following : Take a 
 little Teft made as beneath, and place it 
 in the Middle of your Chimney ; lay A- 
 fties about it, about fix Inches broad, and 
 as high, or rather higher than your Teft ; 
 lay Bricks about the Afhes to hold them 
 up one Brick Thicknefs, and two Bricks 
 broad, then lay half a Peck of Char-coals 
 upon the Teft kindled, and when they are 
 almoft confumed, and the Teft red hot, 
 put them by a little in the Midft over the 
 Teft, and lay over a Piece of good Oak- 
 wood about five Inches fquare, and eigh- 
 teen Inches long ; lay it fo upon two 
 Tyle-fheards, that it may lie about an 
 Inch and an half over the Teft, then lay 
 on more ordinary Billets and fome Char- 
 coals amongft ; make the Fire about it fo 
 ftrong as to roaft a Pig, and blow to it a 
 little, till the Fire burn clear, then put 
 upon the Teft two Ounces of your Lead, 
 and blow to it gently, and in three Quar- 
 ters of an Hour, all the Lead will be con- 
 fumed, and the Silver will lie in the Mid- 
 dle of the Teft like a little Bead or Pearl ; 
 then put afide the Fire, and let all be 
 cold. 
 
 Then 
 
( 20 5 ) 
 
 Then you may weigh the Silver in aPair 
 of Gold- fcales, and lb call it up howmuch 
 there is in a Tun of Lead. I have thus 
 try’d many Oars, and have found them to 
 differ in Goodnefs of all Sorts, from forty 
 Shillings worth of Silver in a Tun to thirty 
 five Pounds worth ofSilver in a Tun, and 
 there is no Lead but it holdeth fome Sil- 
 ver, yet it is not worth the refining, un~ 
 lefs it yield eight or ten Pounds upon a 
 Tun at leaff. 
 
 The Ted may thus be made : Firft, let 
 a Smith make a Ring of Iron about four 
 Inches wide, and two Inches deep, and a 
 quarter of an Inch thick, and as wide a- 
 bove as beneath, and without a Bottom. 
 
 Then burn Mutton and Beef-bones in 
 the Fire till they be white ; then beat them 
 fmall in a Morter, and fearce them fine 
 like Meal ; then with a little Beer or 
 Water temper a fmall Part thereof like 
 Pap, then put fo much more of the dry 
 Powder by little and little, as will make 
 it fo ftiff* that it will be made into a Ball, 
 but remain clammifh, betwixt Powder 
 and Pafte ; then with a Peflle (lamp it 
 gently into your Ring till it be Top-full, 
 being fet upon an even board, then damp 
 it a little lower in the middle, then at the 
 Edges, and fmooth it with a flight Stone, 
 or fome round glafs, fo fet it in the Chim- 
 ney Corner, to dry a Day or two, and it 
 is ready for your Work. If 
 
( 2,06 ) 
 
 If you put a quarter of an Ounce of 
 Sandiver, and as muchSalt-petre mingled 
 together with your Powder of Lead, and 
 Filings of Iron at your firft melting, it 
 will melt fomewhat fooner, and with lefs 
 blowing, befides that the Cinder will part 
 cleaner from the malleable Metal. 
 
 And if you want Char-coals, you may 
 burn Wood in an Oven, and when it is 
 red, and hath done fmoaking, you may 
 fet up the Oven-lid, and damp it. 
 
 Or you may do the like in an open 
 Chimney, and damp it in an earthen Pot, 
 or cover it with Afhes ; or damp it in a 
 Hole in the Ground, by covering it with 
 a Cover, ot* with Afhes. 
 
 Any of thefe Coals will ferve to make 
 your Allays and Trials; As for Di regi- 
 ons for great Works here is nothing in- 
 tended in this little Book *, but only to be 
 fure whether the Work will quit the Coft *, 
 which if it will, then Provision for great 
 Works will eafily be brought to pafs. 
 
 And if you want Pots, you may be at 
 choice, whether you will buy the fame 
 at the Gold-fmiths, or Potters in London , 
 who fell Flanders Melting-pots, or make 
 themyourfelf by this Dire&ion following: 
 
 Take right Flanders Juggs, fuch as 
 they ufually put Bottle-beer in, beat them 
 to fine Powder, and fearce them fine as 
 Meal $ take of this Meal four Pound, of 
 
 the 
 
( 207 ) 
 
 the fine Powder of Tobacco - pipe Clay one 
 Pound, temper them together with the 
 red fattifh Water, that ifilieth out of an 
 Horfe Dunghil, beat it fcrongly upon a 
 board with a Rowling-pin, till it be ft iff 
 Pafte, then falhion your Pots upon a piece 
 of Wood, turned like a Top, only let the 
 fharp End of the Top be thicker and flat- 
 ter than an ordinary Top ; then fet them 
 to dry in your Chimney Corner a Day or 
 two ; when you ufe them, fet them in the 
 Fire at the firfh kindling *, and fo let the 
 Fire fteal upon them till they be red hot *, 
 then put in your Metal and Ingredients, 
 and cover it with a Tile-fheard, or Cover 
 of Iron, and fo melt it down. 
 
 CHAP. LXIJI. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed the Operations of Tin . 
 
 T HIS Metal may be melted down 
 like the Lead, only omitting the 
 Fillings of Iron \ but when it is melted 
 it is not malleable, till it be compounded 
 with certain Proportions of other Me- 
 tals, which I will not declare, becaufe it 
 is a Secret of Weight belonging to the 
 Pewterers Trade. 
 
 And as for refining of it, I am fure it 
 cannot be done by any Artifice \ for I fup- 
 
 pofe 
 
( 208 ) 
 
 pofe I have try’d more Experiments about 
 it, than any ten Men in England , becaufe 
 that I faw the Refiners could not do it ; 
 therefore I took the more Pains and In- 
 duftry to bring it to pafs •, which if I 
 could have affe&ed, I do verily believe it 
 would have proved a very rich Metal ; but 
 the more I try’d the worfe I fped, for 
 at the laft I melted Gold and Silver equal 
 parts with the Tin, thinking thereby to 
 bring it down into the Lead, and to 
 make it to drive fair, and refine kindly, 
 but all was vain, for the Tin poyfoned 
 andconfum’d fome of my rich Metals. 
 
 Now as there is no Hopes of any Roy- 
 al Metal ever to be gotten out of this Mi- 
 neral •, to fupply the Shortnefs of this 
 Chapter, I will ffiew a way, how every 
 one that hath a mind to meddle with thefe 
 Affairs, may have good poffibility to en- 
 rich themfelves and their Pofterity \ and 
 be out of danger to undo themfelves, or 
 to damnify themfelves in any Manner of 
 Value that is confiderable. 
 
 For my Meaning is, in the taking in 
 Hand of this Task, to do good to all, 
 and Hurt to none ; and that no Man 
 from henceforth fhall need to be at a quar- 
 ter of Charge, Study, or Labour, which 
 I myfelf have undergone. 
 
 Therefore feeing that if the mod inge- 
 nious and exquifite Ways be taken in the 
 
 Defign 
 
( ) 
 
 Defign that Wit can attain unto, yet it is 
 but an Adventure *, for fometimes all the 
 Labour may be loft, though not often, if 
 good Heed be taken ; and lbmetimes 
 Mines may be found, which will not quit 
 the Charges to be wrought upon. 
 
 Therefore, as wife Merchants will not 
 hazard all in one Bottom, fo let this ne- 
 ver be any Man’s Defign totally *, for 
 now there is no fuch need but they may 
 do all that can be done at fuch fpare Times, 
 as any Gentleman or Man of Quality, u- 
 fually fpendeth in Hawking, Hunting, 
 Gaming, or other Pleafures; whereof he 
 needs but fet a Part of that Time for thefe 
 Purpofes ; having the moft part of his 
 Work done to his Hands in this little 
 Book. 
 
 If the Refiners fhould grudge at me, 
 for difclofing fome of the Secrets of their 
 Trade, I will anfwer them in this Man- 
 ner : Firft, I myfelf have fpent the Time 
 of divers Apprenticeships in thefe Affairs, 
 and therefore claim a Privilege to difclofe 
 my Experience for the Publick Benefits at 
 my Pleafure. 
 
 Secondly, I affirm, that there can be 
 no Damage to any Refiner, by the divulg- 
 ing of thefe Secrets •, but on the contrary, 
 a great Probability of much Gain to that 
 Trade j for that, here is nothing but the 
 Skill to make the Aftays difclofed for the 
 
 Searcher’s 
 
( 210 ) 
 
 Searcher’s Satisfa&ion, before he take in 
 hand great Works ; which if he find 
 Caufe fo to do, I advife him to chufe the 
 beft Workmen that he can get, and one 
 that hath been long experienced in thefe 
 Works and in fo doing he fhall profper 
 the better in his Defign : And if every 
 Year fome Increafe of that Trade fhall be 
 entertained in thefe Affairs, as there is 
 good Probability they may *, the reft will 
 have Caufe to give me Thanks for my 
 Pains, rather than opprobrious Speeches. 
 
 CHAP. LXY. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed the Operation of Iron . 
 
 A S for the melting hereof, feeing 
 that it is no Work to be done in the 
 Chimney Corner, I will turn over the 
 Reader to learn the Pra&ife thereof in eve- 
 ry Country almoft where he fhall come. 
 
 As for the Refining thereof it may be 
 done in this Manner: Take Filings ofl- 
 ron two Parts, Antimony one Part, it 
 will meltdown like your Lead Oar j take 
 the pure Metal, which will be much 
 mare brittle than the Lead was, and melt 
 it with four times as much Lead as it 
 weigheth, then refine it* as before is 
 taught ■> if you know the Goodnefs of your 
 ° Lead 
 
(,II ) 
 
 Lead before, you may know the Aug- 
 mentation out of the Iron, which will not 
 quit the Charges out of any Iron made in 
 thefe Northern Countries ; nor yet out of 
 Spanifhlron ; but what it may do out of 
 Iron made in the burning Zone I know 
 not ; but I conceive it may do well, if any 
 fuch Iron can be found and made in that 
 Climate. 
 
 It is true, that good Gold may be extrac- 
 ted out of any Iron, but not by any com- 
 mon Way, but by a tedious, laborious, 
 and coftly Way ; and when all is done, 
 there will be no Gain, unlefs it be in Con- 
 ceit, which fatisfieth no Man, butthofe 
 who are of my Difpofition, who think 
 Experience to be the greateft Gain in the 
 
 World. 
 
 CHAP. LXVI. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed the Operation of Copper . 
 
 I R S T, take your Oar, and break it 
 
 r into little Pieces, about the B'gnefs 
 of a Hazel Nut \ then lay a Layer of fmall 
 Charcoals an Inch thick in your Chimney 
 Corner •, then lay on your Pieces of Oar ; 
 thert lay on more Char-coals an Inch and 
 an half thick upon the Oar, then kindle 
 and let the Fire burn out of itfelf. 
 
 Then 
 
( 212 ) 
 
 Then beat it into fmall Powder, and 
 mingle it with your Sandiver, and Salt- 
 petre, as you did your Lead, without any 
 Filings of Iron, and fo melt it down as 
 you did your Lead Oar •, only this Diffe- 
 rence muft be ufed, by Reafon that it is 
 harder of Fufion than the Lead Oar-, there- 
 fore you muft lay the Bricks fomewhat wi- 
 der than you did for the Lead, that it may 
 hold more Coals ; befides that you muft 
 take the choiceft Coals that can be pick’d 
 out, and no very fmall ones amongft ’em*, 
 alfo you muft have two Pair of Hand- 
 Bellows, and two Men to blow very 
 ftrongly, and fo melt it down. 
 
 As for the refining it is needlefs to 
 fhew the Manner ; for no Copper in thefe 
 Northen Countries holdeth any royal Me- 
 tal, that is confiderable neither Englijh 
 nor Dantzic Copper 5 yet in regard that 
 in fome Mines in Hungary , there is gene- 
 rated Gold, Silver, and Copper, all in 
 one Mafs of Oar*, and alfo in Regard' 
 that if any Minesof Copper fhall be difco- 
 vered in Virginia ,• or other Southern Coun- 
 tries, there is fome good Probability that 
 it may contain royal Metal ; therefore I 
 will fhew the Manner how to refine it, 
 and alfo to part the Gold from the Silver, 
 if it contain both together. 
 
 Firft, melt one Ounce of Copper with 
 four Ounces of fuch Lead as you know the 
 
 Goodnefs 
 
(213 ) 
 
 Goodnefs of before ; then refine it, and 
 by the Augmentation, you lhall know the 
 Worth of the royal Metal contained in the 
 Copper. 
 
 If you would try whether the Copper 
 contained any Gold in it, put the Affay, 
 viz. the little Bead or Pearl of Silver in- 
 to good Aqua-fortis well purified before, 
 and if all diffolve then the Copper held 
 no Gold *, but if it leave a black Powder 
 undiffolved, that is Gold; for Lead hold- 
 eth no Silver that hath any Gold in it at 
 all; therefore it is evident that the Gold 
 .came out of the Copper. 
 
 But if it happen, as often as it doth in 
 the refining of bafe Metals, efpecially Tin, 
 Iron, and Copper, that the little Bead, or 
 Pearl remaining in the Middle of the Teft, 
 is not bright andfhining, like the Eye of 
 a Bird, or Fifh, but rough, black, and 
 full of Scurf ; then if it be but a little in 
 Quantity, and that .the Teft be not crack- 
 ed, nor full of Clifts, then put it to fome 
 more of the lame Lead, whereof you know 
 the Goodnefs, and drive it off again as 
 you did at the firft ; and re-iterate this 
 Work till the Affay be pure and clean like 
 a little Pearl, or Bead, as it ought to be. 
 
 But if it happen that the Teft is very 
 foul, as often it cometh to pafs in the Re- 
 fining of ftrange Minerals, as Marcafites , 
 and .efpecially thole which the Mineralifts 
 
 call 
 
(*I4 ) 
 
 call by the Name of Devil 9 s Dirt ; then 
 there is no Way but to let all cool ; and 
 then to dig it out, and with more Lead to 
 melt it again in a Pot, and then to let it 
 cool, and then to break the Pot, and to 
 beat off the Cinder with an Hammer, till 
 you come to the malleable Metal, and you 
 may be allured that no Royal Metal will 
 ftay in the Cinder, but fink down into the 
 Lead, through an Attractive Virtue be- 
 twixt them. 
 
 CHAP. LXVII. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed the Operations of Silver . 
 
 A S for the melting thereof, when it is 
 found in the Mine of Lead, theO- 
 peration is taught in the Chapter of Lead; 
 but if it be found by itfelf, or mix’d with 
 Gold without Lead, as many times it 
 cometh to pafs, then it is to be beaten to 
 Powder, and mix’d with Sandiver, and 
 Saltpetre, without any Filings of Iron, 
 and fo melted down like the Lead Oar ; 
 only the Fire mud be fomewhat ftronger. 
 
 Then it is to be melted with four times 
 as much Lead, whereof you know the 
 Goodnefs ; and fo to be refined, as before 
 is declared. 
 
 Bat 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 But whereas fometimes this Oar is fo 
 ftrongly mixed with Sparre, and ilony 
 Substances, that it cannot be feparated 
 therefrom, by any common Manner of 
 Work ufed by the Refiners, then this 
 Courfe is to be taken with it : Firft, beat 
 itintofmall Powder, thenwafh away with 
 Water the greateft part of the Terreftrei- 
 ty and Filth ; then dry the Powder, and 
 ufe it in this Manner. 
 
 Firft, melt four Ounces of Lead, and 
 when it is melted, put it to four Ounces 
 of Quickfilver, made hot in another Melt- 
 ing pot ; but let the Lead be almoft cold 
 before you put it to the Quickfilver; but 
 yet it muff be done whilft the Lead is li- 
 quid. 
 
 This done, cad: it into an Iron Morter, 
 fet it warm before upon Embers, and it 
 will be like Pap ; then prefently with a 
 Peftel, labour in one Ounce of your Pow- 
 der, or two at the mod, till it be incor- 
 porated ; and fo much thereof as will in- 
 corporate ; for the ftrong and earthy Sub- 
 ftance will not incorporate with the Lead 
 and Quickfilver by any Artifice whatfoe- 
 ver : But the Silver, if any there be, will 
 forfake the earthy and ftony Subfiance, 
 and join itfelf with the Lead and Quickfil- 
 ver by an attractive Virtue. This done, 
 put it altogether in a Melting-pot, with 
 a little Sandiver and Saltpetre, and melt 
 
 it 
 
( 2i6 ) 
 
 it down as you did the Lead Oar ; only 
 this mud be obferved, that the Fire mud 
 be more mild at the fird a great deal, till 
 the Quickfilver be evaporated, and more 
 ftrong at the lad, that all may flow well 
 together. Then take out the Pot, and 
 let it cool *, then break it, and with a 
 Hammer beat off all the Cinder and Scurf, 
 till nothing be left but malleable Metal. 
 
 Then refine it according to the com- 
 mon Manner before declared, and cad 
 up with your Pen the Augmentation that 
 is more than the Lead yieldeth of itfelf : 
 And if there be no Augmentation, then 
 that Mineral Stone contained neither Gold 
 nor Silver; for this is the mod exquifite 
 Way in the World to reduce Gold or Sil- 
 ver, which is hard to be reduced to a me- 
 tal lical Body, through being drongly 
 mixed with either corrofive Subdances, or 
 any other Filth which hindereth it’s Re- 
 dudion : Therefore if this Way fail, you 
 may let your Heart at red for the feeking 
 out of any other Devices whatfoever, tho* 
 the glidering Sparks contained in the faid 
 Minerals do never fo drongly invite you *, 
 and you may conclude with the old Say- 
 ing, that all is not Gold that gliders. 
 
 But if it profper, and yields any Aug- 
 mentation that is confiderable ; then if you 
 defire to know whether there was anyGold 
 mix’d with the Silver, as oftentimes there 
 
 is. 
 
( 217 ) 
 
 is, where Silver is found without Lead, 
 then put the little Bead, or Pearl of Sil- 
 ver, which remained on the Teft into A - 
 qua-fortis , and if all diftolve, then there 
 is no Gold in that Mineral ; but if a black 
 Powder remain, then that is Gold, and 
 the Quantity may be found by farther 
 Trial. 
 
 CHAP. LXVIII. 
 
 Wherein is fhewed the Operation of Gol 
 and real Experiments whereby any Ml 
 may prefently try whether any Pieces o J 
 Gold be true or counterfeit , without de 
 facing or altering the Form thereof 
 
 A S for the melting of it; if it be 
 f'~\ found mix’d with Silver Oar, as ( f> 
 tentimes it cometh to pafs, then it is to b 
 melted, refined, and parted from the Sil 
 ver, with Aquafortis , as is before decla 
 red ; and if there be not live times as 
 much Silver as there is Gold in the Com- 
 pufition, then you muft put to it fo much, 
 or elle the Aquafortis will not diftolve it. 
 
 Bat if it be found in Grains or Powder, 
 as oftentimes it is, then you muft put to it 
 Borax inftead of Sandiver and Salt-Petre, 
 and fo melt it down as you did the other 
 Oars before mentioned. 
 
 L 
 
 Now 
 
( 218 ) 
 
 Now as this Metal is the moft rich of 
 all the red, and moft thirfted after, I 
 will enlarge my Difcourfe for the gaining 
 of Means to find it out alfo I will fhew 
 the Reafon why this royal Metal is many 
 Times found pure of it felf, with little 
 or no Mixture of other bafe Metal with 
 it. 
 
 And firft, whereas it is often found in 
 the Sand in Rivers, let no Man think that 
 it could be generated there, but that the 
 fwift Motion of the Water from the high 
 Mountains, bronght it thither, with 
 Earth and altogether, till fuch Time as 
 the Motion of the Water grew more flow ; 
 and fo according to it’s Property, being 
 not able to carry forward ftill both the 
 Subftances, did ftill carry the Earth with 
 it, and let the heavier Body fink. 
 
 Therefore I would have thofe that have 
 Occafion to deal in the hot Countries 
 where Gold is ufually generated, to make 
 trial in all fuch Rivers wich run from great 
 Mountains with a fwift Courfe in fuch 
 Places, where the Motion of the Water 
 beginneth to grow (low. 
 
 And for thisPurpofe he may have alittle 
 Bucket of Iron that will not lie in the Bot- 
 tom, but on one Side, which Side muff 
 have a Shoe like a Shovel-, fo that being 
 drawn a little forward, as it lies in the 
 Bottom it will fill itfelf with Sand : 
 
 Which 
 
( 219 ) 
 
 Which you may try by grinding it with 
 Qaickfilver willingly : Then you may 
 wafh away all the Sand, and ftrain the 
 Quickfilver through a Skin of Leather, 
 and if any Gold be gathered into it, there 
 will remain a Ball in the Leather : Then 
 you may evaporate the Quickfilver 
 from the Ball in a melting Pot, and fo 
 melt down the Gold with a little Borax . 
 
 Alfo fometimesGold is found in Rivers, 
 in Powder and Grains, far diflant from a- 
 ny Mountains, of Iwift Motion of Water : 
 This plainly demon Urates that the Earth 
 thereabout contains Gold, a Thing ufual- 
 ly in hot Countries, and that the Water 
 in that Place had a convenient Motion to 
 wear away the Earth, and to leave the 
 Gold behind •, and this is manifeflly feen 
 by Experience where they wafh whole 
 Mountains of Earth with Water, thereby 
 to feparate the Gold from it. 
 
 Now as I have formerly affirmed that 
 all Metals in general are generated of the 
 clammy and glutinous Part of the fub- 
 terraneal Vapours arifing from bituminous 
 and fulphurous Subfiances, kindled in the 
 Bov/els of the Earth, it behoveth me to 
 fhew how Gold, fuch a fixed Subfiance, 
 can be found pure of itfelf, and not mix- 
 ,ed with other bafe Metals. 
 
 And the Reafon of this can be no other, 
 bat becaufe that all other Metals whatfo- 
 L 2 ever. 
 
( 220 ) 
 
 ever, will putrify in the Earth in Length 
 of Time, and turn to Earth again *, but 
 Gold will never putrify by Reafon of it’s 
 excellent Compofition, being made of a 
 balfamic Sulphur, or Fatnefs, which is 
 incombuftible, and differeth from the 
 Sulphur or Fatnefs contained in other Me- 
 tals, even as natural Balfam differeth 
 From all other Oils, and fat Subfiances : 
 So that though it be an Oil in Shew, yet 
 it will fink in Water, whereas all other 
 Oils will fwim upon the Top of the Wa- 
 ter. 
 
 And this is the Caufe why Gold finketh 
 fo eagerly in Water, which may be prov- 
 ed by weighing a twenty Shilling Piece of 
 Gold, againfl a Brafs Weight and then 
 letting the Scales fmk in aB.ifon of Water 
 three or foisr Inches deep, the Gold will 
 there over-weigh the Brafs about nine or 
 ten Grains by reafon that the Brafs is more 
 inclinable to fwimming through the com- 
 buflible Fatnefs or Sulphur in it’s Compo- 
 fition * and as for the twenty Shilling 
 Piece, fo for any other Piece of Gold 
 whatfoever ; according to it’s feveral Brafs 
 Weight you may in like Manner try whe- 
 ther it he true or counterfeit . 
 
 Now whereas the Subftance of Gold is 
 not lubje6l to putrify in the Earth by any 
 Length of Time, it is probable enough 
 that other Metals might be generated with 
 
 it 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 it at the firfl, and afterward putrified and 
 confumed from it in Length of Time, 
 leaving the Gold pure. 
 
 For I have drawn Iron, or a Subfiance 
 much like to Filings, or Atoms of Iron 
 out of grain Gold that was brought from 
 Guinea with a Load-done, which feem’d 
 to be Iron not fully putrified and turned 
 into Earth. 
 
 And the Reafon why the hotter the 
 Country is, the richer the Minerals are, 
 can be no other but the fame, that roafted 
 Meats are fweeter than boiled Meats, or 
 raw Meats: The Reafon whereof is plain, 
 for the rawifh and unfavory Part is exha- 
 led by the Heat of the Fire, leaving the 
 fweeteft part behind. 
 
 Even fo in hot Countries, all that Part 
 of the fubterraneal Vapours, which here is 
 condenfed into Lead, and other bafe Me- 
 tals can there have no leave to congeal, 
 by Reafon of the Heat : But is all or molt 
 Part thereof exhaled out of the Mines, 
 leaving behind the royal Metals, whofe 
 Property is to coagulate with Heat : 
 Whereas the Property of the bafe Metals 
 is to evaporate with Heat and to com 
 geal. 
 
 The contrary Opinion to this •, namely, 
 that the Subfiance of the befl Metals are 
 convertible into royal Metals by Heat and 
 Digeftion, hath filled the World with 
 L 3 falfe 
 
( 222 ) 
 
 Life Books and Receipts in Alchymy, 
 and hath caufed many Men to fpend 
 much Money , Labour , Study and 
 Charges to no Purpofe. 
 
 For I know, by good and long Expe- 
 rience, and by many accurate Trials, that 
 Quickfilver, the mo ft friendly Mineral to 
 the Royal Metals, can by no Means, or 
 Artifice whatfoever, be fixed or coagula- 
 ted into either of the Royal Metals. Al- 
 fo I have found fince, that no Author of 
 Credit or Reputation teacheth any fuch 
 Thing *, but, on the contrary, condemns 
 all fuch Operations to be falfe. 
 
 For the Subftance of the royal Metal is 
 quite contrary to that ofbafe Metals, even 
 as the fixed Salt of any Vegetable, is dif- 
 ferent from the volatile or fugitive Salt of 
 the fame. Yet I don’t deny but by Art 
 there may be drawn fome fmall fixed Part 
 -out of the bafe Metals, which may be 
 converted into Royal Metal, though with 
 much Labour, Charge, and Lofs. 
 
 For as a Tree, or other Vegetable, be- 
 ing burned, doth yield a fixed Salt, or 
 Afhes, ' fo the bafe Metals do contain 
 fome fmall Quantity of Matter, of the 
 fame Nature that the royal Metals are 
 compounded of. 
 
 And, for the further Satisfa&ion to the 
 Reader, I will fhew, in the next Chapter, 
 a true Receipt how to make true Gold, 
 
 abiding 
 
( 223 ) 
 
 abiding all Trials, and having all Proper- 
 ties, adtive and paflive, which true natu- 
 ral Gold hath i but, inftead of Gain, Lofs 
 will be ready to follow the Work. 
 
 CHAP. LXIX. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed how true and perfcft Gold 
 may he made hy Art , with Lofs to the 
 Workman. 
 
 Lhus I wrought. 
 
 I Took eight Ounces of Regulus of I- 
 ron and Copper, made as beneath is 
 declared, and fixteen Ounces of common 
 Sublimate, bought at the Apothecaries, 
 made thefe Ingredients into fine Powder*, 
 firft feverally, and then I ground them 
 well together upon a Marble Stone, and 
 fo put them into a Retort of Glafs, and 
 drew from them firft an Oyl, then a 
 Subftance like Butter, and laftly a yel- 
 low Sublimate, tindted with the Tindture 
 of Iron and Copper, which yellow Subli- 
 mate I redtified three or four Times, till 
 it was very pure ; then I mixed it with 
 equal Parts of an Amalgam of Silver and 
 Quickfilver, made as ben:ath is taught, 
 and put it into another Retort of Glafs, 
 and forced away all but the Silver, 
 which remained like yellow Horn *, this 
 yellow Silver I amalgamed again withtaw 
 L 4 Quick- 
 
( 224 ) 
 
 Quickfilver, and fet it in a gentle Heat a- 
 bout a Week, then in a very ftrong Heat 
 for fix Hours ; fo that the Quickfilver 
 rofe up. and fell down again upon the 
 Silver, till fuch Time as it had carried up 
 all the Silver from the Bottom of the 
 Glafs, into Branches like Trees; then I 
 melted down the Silver, and fined it, and 
 parted it with Aqua-fortis, and had divers 
 Grains of pure and good Gold, abiding 
 all Trials ; but the Quantity would not 
 pay for half the Charges and Labour. 
 
 I made the Regulus thus : I took four 
 Ounces of Iron in Stub Nails, and made 
 them red hot in a Crucible, and then I 
 put to it eight Ounces of crude Antimo- 
 ny, and melted it down, and when it was 
 well and thin melted, I let it cool in the 
 Pot, and fo knock’d off the Regulus from 
 the Lop or Cinder, which lay upon the 
 Top of it; then I did the like with four 
 Ounces of Copper in thin Plates ; and 
 then I mixed equal Parts of thefe two, 
 and melted them three or four Times, e- 
 very Time calling into the Pot half an 
 Ounce of Saltpetre, as it was in melting, 
 to purify it, till it was pure and bright 
 almoft like Silver, but yet brittle, fo 
 that I could beat it in a Morter to fine 
 Powder. 
 
 The yellow Silver that was like yellow 
 Horn did amalgam, with much Difficulty 
 
 and 
 
( 22 5 ) 
 
 and Grinding, with Salt and Vinegar, and 
 fome of it was loft, do what I could * but 
 the firft Silver was Water Silver, which I 
 bought at the Refiners, out of which they 
 had taken the Gold before ; this did amal- 
 gam very eafily ; then I drained it to a 
 Ball through a Leather Skin, and fo mix- 
 ed it v/ith the yellow Sublimate that was 
 tindfed yellow with the Tindlure of Iron 
 and (Jopper. 
 
 The ^Proportion of the Quickfilver to 
 the Silveijp/as five or fix Parts to one. 
 
 If any one doubt the Truth of Alchy- 
 my, he may be fatisfied by this Trial ; 
 but, inftead of Gain, he fhall pay for his 
 Learning, by going away with Lofs. 
 
 I do not deny but there are Works of 
 lefs Lofs and Charge, yet none of them 
 lucrous, by Reafon of the Change of 
 Times. 
 
 For if any one will uphold me as good 
 a Leafe, or Purchafe of Land, as I can 
 prove by credible Records, hath been 
 had in former Times for an Ounce of 
 Gold, I will undertake to make an Ounce 
 of Gold by Art to pay for it, and yet 
 
 have a good Bargain. 
 
 0 . 0 - 
 
 But the Difference of Times hath con- 
 founded this Art, as may appear more 
 plainly beneath. 
 
 Firft , In ancient Times a Man’s Work 
 was not worth above a Penny a Day, which 
 L 5 
 
 now 
 
( 226 ) 
 
 now is worth Two Shillings and Sixpence 
 a Day, as may appear by ancient Records 
 for Buildings, and the like : fo that there 
 is Thirty to One Lofs in the Workman- 
 fhip. 
 
 Secondly , Then Coals, Veffels, and o- 
 ther Things neceffary for thefe Affairs, 
 did cofl little in Refpedt of the Charge 
 now. 
 
 Thirdly , When the Gold was made, it 
 would then have bought Thirty or Forty 
 Times as much, either Lands, Leafes, 
 Vidtuals, or Workmanfhip, as now. 
 
 So I conclude, that then the Owners 
 of this Art might gain Thirty or Forty 
 for One, and yet now they fhall loofe 
 extreamly. 
 
 CHAP. LXX. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed the Operations of inferior 
 Minerals. 
 
 A S for thefe bafe Minerals, viz. Ci- 
 nabar natural, Antimony, Sulphur, 
 Auripigmentum, Arfenic, Talcum, Muf- 
 covy Glafs, Emery , and many other 
 Things of like Nature, becaufe they are 
 of fmall Value, and not worth the feek- 
 ing for on Purpofe, I will omit further to 
 diicourfe of them \ if any Man fhall find 
 
 them. 
 
( 227 ) 
 
 them, or any of them, by Accident, let 
 him ufe his own Pleafure, Skill, and In- 
 duftry in the proceeding of them. 
 
 Neverthelels, becaufe Cinabar natural 
 may contain much Quickfilver, which is 
 very ufeful for many Things ; and may 
 prove as beneficial as a good Mine of 
 Metal, efpecially if it be found in great 
 Plenty. I will therefore fhew the refining 
 Separation, and purifying of the lame in 
 fmall Proportion ; fo that if it fhould be 
 found a profitable Work, then the Find- 
 er thereof may proceed to a greater Work. 
 The firft Thing then to be done, is to 
 confider of the Weight thereof ; if it be 
 very ponderous, reddifh in Colour, and 
 full of clear Streaks, fiiining almoft like 
 the Streaks of Antimony, then it is a 
 good Sign of a rich Mine. 
 
 The firft Trial to be made thereof, is 
 to weigh a Piece thereof, and fo put it 
 into a gentle Fire, for an Hour or two, 
 that it may be only red hot ; then let it 
 cool, and weigh it again ; and fo, by the 
 Lightnefs thereof, being compared with 
 the former Weight, you mayjudge fome- 
 what of the Richnefs thereof. 
 
 Then take a Pound thereof, and beat 
 it into fine Powder, and mingle it well 
 with as much unfiack’d Lime, put it into 
 a Retort of Glafs, luted withPotters-CLiy, 
 and ibme Horfe-Dung, well beaten and 
 
 tempered 
 
( 228 ) 
 
 tempered together; then let it in a little 
 Furnace in your Chimney Corner, and 
 force it with Fire twelve Hours ; and let 
 the Nofe of the Glafs enter into another 
 Glafs, filled almoft full of Water, in fuch 
 Manner, that the Vapours of the Cina- 
 bar mull needs enter into the Water, for 
 the better Condenfation thereof into Qaick- 
 filver. 
 
 This done, feparate your Quick filver in 
 the Bottom of the Water, and dry it and 
 weigh it; if you find the Quantity con- 
 fiderable, then you may proceed in this 
 Manner. 
 
 Firft, Make a Hole in the Earth, with 
 very good tempered Clay that will hold 
 Water, and let it be narrow in the Bot- 
 tom, and wider and wider above to the 
 Top, to the Breadth of two, three, or 
 four Yards ; then fill the Pit with Water, 
 and lay over it Bars of Iron, of fufficient 
 Strength and Thicknefs to bear the Bur- 
 then that mull lie upon it ; and then let 
 them lie fo near together, that the Stones 
 and Wood cannot fall through ; then lay 
 thereupon a Leer of dry Wood, and a 
 Leer of your red Stone, not broken fmall; 
 and fo do again, till it be a Yard thick, 
 or more ; then give Fire to it on the 
 Wind- fide, and go away out of the Dan- 
 ger of the Fumes, till you fee afar off 
 
( 229 ) 
 
 that the Fire is finifhed and burned quite 
 out. 
 
 Then repair to your Work, and let out 
 the Water through a Pipe of Lead, which 
 fhould be formally laid almoft at the Bot- 
 tom of the Pit, into another Pit near to 
 it, made fo deep that it may receive the 
 Water-, and in the Bottom you fhall find 
 great Store of Quickfilver, if the Mine 
 was good. 
 
 The Water may be pumped up again, 
 to ferve the next Day for the fame Ufe ; 
 and you need but to take up but few of 
 the Bars of Iron every Day, to go down 
 into the Pit, to take out your Quickfil- 
 ver, and fo lay them down again. 
 
 CHAP. LXXI. 
 
 Wherein is Jhewed the Way to find out Pit- 
 Coal ; alfo the natural Caufe of the Gene- 
 ration of them , by a plain Demonftration . 
 
 T H O’ this Mineral be of fmall Value, 
 yet if a good Mine thereof fhall be 
 difcovered in fome particular Places of this 
 Land, the Benefit thereof will far exceed 
 the Profit of any Metal Mine ufually found 
 in thefe Northern Countries, by reafon that 
 Wood is fo greatly decayed of late Years; 
 
 that 
 
( 2 3 ° ) 
 
 that were it not for this Help, many Peo- 
 ple would be in Danger to be ftarved. 
 
 The firft Thing, therefore, which I 
 would have to be diligently obferved is, 
 that this Mineral is ufually found in 
 Ground that is prone to bear Wood and 
 Thorns^and notin the very fertileGrounds, 
 nor yet in the extream barren Grounds, but 
 of an indifferent Fertility, and in Grounds 
 that are ufually flower in their Growth in 
 the Spring Time, than the fertile cham- 
 pain Countries by a Week or a Fort- 
 night. 
 
 Alfo the faid Grounds are prone to bring 
 forth large Cattle, and well horned ; but 
 not to feed the faid Cattle without a long 
 Time, nor yet will they ever be fat upon 
 the fame Ground. Alfo the Springs iflfu- 
 ing out of the laid Grounds, are apt to 
 colour the Earth ruddy at their Orifice, 
 like unto the Ruft of Iron. 
 
 Alfo the faid Spring Water being boil- 
 ed, as before is taught, doth ufually yield 
 a black Refidence. 
 
 Alfo if you bury a new Bowl of pure 
 white Wood in the faid Grounds, from 
 March till Midfummer , with the Mouth 
 downward, it will be coloured blackifh 
 with the fubterraneal Vapours. 
 
 I had a Receipt given me for this Pur- 
 pole, by one that, for his great Experi- 
 ence and excellent Skill in natura C ales, 
 
 fe.med 
 
( 231 ) 
 
 feemed to be one of Nature’s Darlings ; 
 which, becaufe I have not tried, forWant 
 of Opportunity , I will commend it as a 
 very probable Sign, and give fuch Cau- 
 tions, that any Man may be fure of it, 
 before he try his Fortunes by digging or 
 boring, or any chargeable Way. 
 
 And this was his Direction : About the 
 Middle of May, when the fubterraneal Va- 
 pours are ftrong , which may be difcerned by 
 the Fern , which about that 1 Time will fud- 
 denly grow out of the Earth in a Night or 
 two , almoft a Handful in Length , then take 
 a pure white Piece of Tiffany , and wet it in 
 the Dew of the Grafs , which is all of that 
 Spring’s Growth , and not fpoiled with Cat- 
 tle , nor other Thing , then wring out the 
 Dew from it , and do fo five or fix Times , 
 and if there be Coals , the Tiffany will be a 
 little blacked , and made foul with the footy 
 Vapours arifing through the Coals , and con- 
 denfed amongft the Dew. 
 
 Now, to be fure not to be deceived, do 
 thus : Firft, Try where there are Coals, 
 and if you find the Signs abovefaid, yet 
 truft not to the Experiment, till you have 
 tried where there is no Coals in fome other 
 Places, wherein it behoveth you to try in 
 divers Places, till you find a Place where 
 the Tiffany is not foiled at all, then you 
 may be fure that the Experiment i »rue 
 and infallible. 
 
 T 
 
( ^32 ) 
 
 I admonifh him that fhall try with the 
 Tiffany upon the Dew, to let his Hands 
 be walked before with Soap and hot Wa- 
 ter, and wiped with a pure white Cloth, 
 till they will not foul the Cloth at all ; 
 elfe if they fpend their Money in digging, 
 and find nothing, they may thank their 
 foul Fingers for that Misfortune. 
 
 As for the natural Caufe of the Gene- 
 ration of Coals, this Demonflration fol- 
 lowing doth make it manifeft. 
 
 Take a Piece of the black fat Earth, 
 which is ufualy digged up in the Weft 
 Country, where there are fuch a Multi- 
 tude of Fir-trees covered therewith, and 
 which the People ufe to cut in the Form 
 of Bricks, and to dry them, and fo to 
 burn them inftead of Coals *, ufe this Sub- 
 ftance as you did the other Earth, in the 
 Beginning of the Book, to find out the 
 natural Caufe of Rocks, Stones, and Me- 
 tals ; and let it receive the Vapours of 
 the combuftible Subftances, and you fhall 
 find this fat Earth hardened into a plain 
 Coal, even as you found the other lean 
 Earth hardned into a Stone. 
 
 Whereby it appeareth, that Nature 
 doth the fame thing in the Generation of 
 Coals under the Ground, by the indurat- 
 ing of a fat Earth with the fubterraneal 
 Vapours, which are apt to work a various 
 Effed, according to the Subftance which 
 they meet withal. Now, 
 
( 2 33 ) 
 
 Now, whereas fame of inquifitive Dif- 
 pofuions will defire to know the natural 
 Caufe of that fat Earth, generated in fuch 
 fubteraneal Caverns, let them be pleafed 
 to confider that fuch places, in former 
 Times, have been the Superficies of the 
 Earth, and afterwards have been covered 
 by the Sea with other Earth *, which may 
 be demonftrated by two Ways. Firft , It 
 is evident that the Mines of Coals do lie 
 in fome Places higher, and in other Places 
 lower, lively refembling the Superficies 
 of the Earth, which is never dire&ly equal, 
 but every where various. 
 
 Secondly ,, Every one may fee in the Weft 
 Country, where fuch a Multitude cf Fir- 
 trees do lie covered fo deep in the Earth, 
 that the Superficies of the Earth is deeper 
 now than it was in former Ages, when 
 thofe Trees were brought thither by the 
 Sea ; for it is evident that they never grew 
 there *, Firft , for that there groweth no 
 Fir-trees in that Country *, fecondly , that 
 they lie crofs, and in fuch uncooth Man- 
 ner, that no human Strength could ever 
 imitate nor parallel, by any Device what- 
 foever. 
 
 Alfo they may fee the Power of the 
 Sea, to alter the Superficies of the Earth, 
 by the Multitude of Earth there laid fo 
 many Yards deep upon the Top of the 
 Trees. 
 
( *34 ) 
 
 Alfo they may fee that the Sea doth 
 make the Difference of the Nature of 
 Earths by it 9 s various Motion, as well as 
 the Unevennefs thereof by Hills and Val- 
 lies ; for there they may fee, that fome 
 Earth will burn, and fome will not burn, 
 being both Sorts brought thither by the 
 Sea, as appeareth evidently by the former 
 Difcourfes. 
 
 Alfo the Sea never retting, but per- 
 petually winning Land in one Place, and 
 Jofing in another, doth fhew what may be 
 done in Length of Time, by a continual 
 Operation, not fubjedl unto Ceafing, or 
 Intermiffion. 
 
 CHAR LXXII. 
 
 Wherein is J hewed a perfect Way to try what 
 Colour any Berry , Leaf \ Flower , Stalky 
 Root , Fruit , Seed , Bark, or W ood will 
 give alfo a perfect Way to make Colours 
 fixed , which will not abide the ordinary 
 Way . 
 
 H ERE I muff confefs a manifeft Di- 
 greffion from my Subject ; yet in re- 
 gard of the great Benefit which this Ex- 
 periment may bring to the Country, out 
 of the new Plantations, and other Places, 
 where it is very probable many of thefe 
 
 Things 
 
( 235 ) 
 
 Things be hidden and unknown, I will 
 crave Pardon, for that my Intent was 
 chiefly to prevent theLofs of thofe Things, 
 which may do much Good, were it not 
 through Ignorance or Negligence. 
 
 Firft then, take half a Pint of Water, 
 and half a Pint of Float, made as beneath. 
 Two-penny Weight of Allom, 12 Grains 
 of Tartar finely beaten, put all into a Tin 
 Veffel, which is better than Earth, Lead, 
 or Copper ; fet it on a Trivet, to diflfolve 
 the Allom, upon a gentle Fire, as foon 
 as it beginneth to boil, take a Piece of 
 white Woollen Cloth, well fcoured with 
 Soap, Fullers-Earth, or Lee, or altoge- 
 ther, to take out the Greafe of it, being 
 well wafhed out with fair Water, and then 
 dried in the Air or Sun, not by the Fire ; 
 the Cloth muft weigh but half an Ounce ; 
 then tye a Thread to the End of the Cloth; 
 and when the Liquor beginneth to boil, 
 then put in the Cloth, and let it boil an 
 Hour ; then take out the Cloth, let it 
 cool, wafh it in two or three Waters ; 
 then take any Berry, Leaf, Flower, Stalk, 
 Root, Fruit, Seed, Bark, or Wood, and 
 bruife them well ; put them in fair Wa- 
 ter, and boil them with a gentle Fire, to 
 extradt the Tindture ; then put in the 
 Cloth formerly prepared, which will fnew 
 what Colour they will give. 
 
 To 
 
( ) 
 
 ! To tnake the Float . 
 
 Boil an Hogfhead of Water ♦, then call 
 in a Bufhel of Wheat-bran *, then draw 
 the Fire *, then let it {land three or four 
 Days till it grow fowerifh. 
 
 But for fmall Trials a little will ferve, 
 obferving Proportion between the Water 
 and the Bran. 
 
 A Proportion mufb be obferved in the 
 allowing of all Stuffs before they receive 
 their Colours. Firfi, The Proportion of 
 Allom to the Water, which is one of Al- 
 lom to fixteen of Water, and Float. Se- 
 condly , the Proportion of the Tartar to the 
 Allom \ which is one of Tartar to four of 
 Allom. Thirdly , The Proportion of Al- 
 lom to the Cloth which is one of Allom 
 to five of the Cloth. 
 
 Note, That all Silks muft be allomed 
 cold, or elfe they will lofe their Luftre. 
 
 The Way to find what Tinfture is hidden in 
 
 any Vegetable , or in any Fart thereof . 
 
 Take the Vegetable, being cut green, 
 and {lamp and grind the fame, as if it 
 were to make Juice thereof then prefs 
 out the Superfluous Moifture j the Re- 
 mainder make up in Balls, and lay them 
 up together, that they may gather a little 
 
 Heat 
 
( 237 ) 
 
 Heat ; but let them not heat too much, 
 for then they will turn to Dung. Thefe 
 being fufficiently fermented, mufl be dri- 
 ed, and afterwards ufed as Oad is ufed. 
 
 Another Way-> as Indie o is made. 
 
 Make a Pit with Timber and Boards, 
 about a Foot deep, and as wide and as 
 long as you pleafe, being well clayed in 
 the Bottom and Sides ; then fill this Pit 
 with any Vegetable cut green ; then put 
 as much Water to it as will cover the 
 Herbs ; let it Hand expofed to the Sun 
 two or three Days •, then with a Plug at 
 the Bottom draw out all the Water, and 
 call it away ; then fill the Pit again with 
 frefh Water, and when it hath flood the 
 like Time, draw it away as the former. 
 This do fo often, till you find that the 
 Herb will be eafily brought into a Muci- 
 lage ; then it mull be trod, and beaten 
 with wooden Inftruments like Rammers, 
 till it will all come to a Mucilage ; then 
 it mufl be taken and wrung through Hair 
 Sieves, like Caffia Fijlula extracted, to 
 keep the great Stalks and Fibres from 
 pafling through; afterwards the Mucilage 
 that paffeth through mufl be dried in the 
 Sun, and fo formed into Cakes like to In- 
 dico. 
 
 Another 
 
( 238 ) 
 
 Another Way. 
 
 Take the Vegetable cut green, and 
 ftamp and grind. it *, then take an Hog- 
 fhead and fill it, with half Water and 
 half bruifed Herbs \ fetit out of the Sun, 
 with the Rung-hole open two or three In- 
 ches, till it ferment and work like Wine 
 or Beer ; after it hath done working the 
 Herbs will fink, which at the firfl did 
 fwim, and the Liquor will grow a little 
 fowerifh ; then let it be fet abroad in the 
 Sun, and brought into Vinegar, as Wine 
 and Beer is brought into Vinegar •, and 
 then that Colour can never be flamed with 
 other Vinegar, or Urine, becaufe it is 
 fufhciently impregnated, and it’s Appe- 
 tite fatisfied with it’s own proper Vinegar. 
 When it’s Subfiance is thus tnrned into 
 Vinegar, the clear Vinegar mufl be drawn 
 from it ; the Remainder mufl be ufed as 
 the former Indico, and fome Water to 
 that, to be lure to fetch out all ids tarta- 
 rous Mucilage, mufl be put to the Vine- 
 gar, and dried away in the Sun, and fo 
 they come like Indico : In tinlfuram tar- 
 tar iza turn fix am de occulto in manifefium. 
 
 And whereas Barks, Wo ads, and 
 Roots are of a dry Compofition, and will 
 not ferment of themfelves with Water, 
 like green Herbs or Vegetables ; therefore 
 
 they 
 
( ^39 ) 
 
 they muft be well ground, or thin fhaven, 
 and there mu ft be added, inftead of Wa- 
 ter, Juice of Grapes, Pears, Apples, or 
 Wort made of Malt, or other Grain, to 
 which the Wood, Bark, or Roots muft 
 be put. Let them ferment together, and 
 afterwards be turned into Vinegar ; then 
 the clear Vinegar muft be extracted ; the 
 Refidue of the Tindture muft be extracted 
 with frefh Water, and both of them muft 
 be breathed away in the Sun, as before, 
 and fo brought in it’s perfedt Tindture. 
 
 By what hath been declared in thisChap- 
 ter, it may appear to every one having an 
 inquifitive Difpofition, what is the true 
 natural Caufe why fome Colours are fix’d, 
 and will not ftain with Vinegar, Urine, nor 
 yet fade with the Air-, which hath in it a 
 certain Acetofity, or fharp airy Salt of the 
 Nature of Vinegar, which thofe Tindtures 
 draw to them, which have not their Ap- 
 petites fully fatisfied before with fuch fpi- 
 ritual or airy Salts. And this is further 
 manifeft; for that all fuch Tindtures which 
 are moft firm and fixed, and are not fub- 
 jedt to Staining or Fading, being tailed 
 upon the Tongue, may be felt fomewhat 
 fharpifh or fowerifh. 
 
 And the .Caufe of this appetitive and 
 attradlive Virtue in Colours, is no other 
 but the very fame which is betwixt the 
 Load-ftone and Iron ; for take the Load- 
 
 ftone 
 
( 240 ) 
 
 flone and burn it till all it’s blue Vapour 
 be exhaled, and it will draw no more Iron; 
 thereby fhewing plainly, that it was that 
 airy Salt, tincted with the veneral or ve- 
 getable Greennefs, which the Iron thirfl- 
 ed after, to fatisfy it’s thirfty dry Nature 
 and Conflitution, which it got by it’s Cal- 
 cination and Fufion. 
 
 And the like Attraction may bedifcern- 
 ed by the intellectual Eyes, in any thing 
 that is flrongly burnt ; fo that all Spirits 
 are exhaled. As Lime will draw the airy 
 Subftance to it, and thereby quench itfelf ; 
 alfo Tartar burned, and laid in the Air, 
 will draw the fharpeft Part of the Air to 
 it, and thereby diffolve itfelf, and, in 
 fine, all corporeal Subfiances, the more 
 they have loft their fpiritual Parts by na- 
 tural or artificial Operation, the flronger 
 is their attractive Virtue. 
 
 Now, inflead of filling the Reader's 
 Head with Proclamations, I will conclude 
 my Book with giving Eafe to his Memo- 
 ry, by prefcribing what Neceflaries he is 
 to provide for the accomplifhing of his 
 feveral Dcfigns, in his Voyages, or Plan- 
 tations, whither his Occafion fliall draw 
 him. 
 
 And fir ft for him that will only try his For- 
 tunes in the Searching for Minerals . 
 
 Fie will need nothing but two or three 
 Pipkins, two or three Urinals, an Iron 
 
 Pick- ax, 
 
( 241 ) 
 
 Pick-ax, well fteeled, a Spade and Crow 
 of Iron, if he will be at the Charge there- 
 of, but there is no great Necefilty ; alfo 
 if he be not acquainted with the feveral 
 Oars of Metals, it will be convenient that 
 he take with him a little Piece of every 
 Sort of Oar, or fo many Kinds as he can 
 get. 
 
 And for him that would proceed further , to 
 try the Value of them himfelf he mufi 
 provide thefe ’Things following, 
 
 A Grate of Iron of a Foot broad, fome 
 Bricks, two Pair of good Hand-Bellows, a 
 Pair of Tongs, fomeLead, Salt-petre, San- 
 diver, Borax, Flanders Melting-Pots, a 
 Ring of Iron for the Teft, an Hatchet, or 
 Hand-Saw to cut Wood, fome good A- 
 quafortis , Weights and Scales ; and if a- 
 ny Man be not a6tive handed enough, he 
 may have a Man for a Trifle, to fhew hin 
 the manual Pradlice, in a Day before h 
 go his Voyage. 
 
 And for him that will fearch for dying Stuffs, 
 he may fee in the laft Chapter what Things 
 he fhall ft and in need of-, alfo the other 
 Chapters may' be perufed , whereby every 
 one may be the better accommodated for 
 their feveral Enterprizes. 
 
 M 
 
 Kara 
 

Rara Avis in Terris : 
 
 OR. THE 
 
 Compleat Miner ; 
 
 In T wo Book s. 
 
 The Firfl containing, 
 
 The Liberties, Laws and Cuftoms of 
 the Lead Mines, within the 
 Wapentake of Wirkfworth in Der- 
 byjhire ; in fifty-nine Articles, be- 
 ing all that ever was made. 
 
 The Second teacheth 
 
 The Art of dialling and levellingGrooves; 
 a Thing greatly defired by all Miners *, 
 being a Subjedb never written on before 
 by any. 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 Explanation of the Miners Terms of Art 
 ufed in this Book - . 
 
 Unins Labor , multorum Laboretn allevat . 
 By Thomas Houghton. 
 

 
 J 
 
 
 
( 245 ) 
 
 TO ALL 
 
 MINERS 
 
 AND 
 
 Maintained of M I N E S, 
 
 Within the Wapentake of Wirkf- 
 worth , or elfewhere : 
 
 The AUTHOR wifheth Happinefs and 
 Profperity in LEAD-MINES. 
 
 H OneSt Countrymen , knowing there is no- 
 thing extant amongft you concerning 
 your Liberties , Laws and Customs fave only 
 fome few Written Copies, which Thoufands 
 of Miners and Maintainers of Mines have 
 not \ nor if they had , would be much the 
 better , by Reafonfew can read them : There - 
 fore , that every one that can but read might 
 know the Cuftoms of the Mines , was the 
 Caufe I publijhed this Book , which will much 
 profit 9 and be a ready Help to all that is con- 
 cerned in mineral Affairs ; in regard you 
 have here in a Vade Mecum, or Pocket 
 Companion, not only the Liberties , Law 
 and Cuftoms of the Mines , which all Mine 
 M3 a 
 
( 248 ) 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 W E fay upon our Oaths, That by 
 the ancient Cuftom of the Mines 
 within the Soak and Wapentake 
 of V/irkfwortb : The Miners and Mer- 
 chants at firft chofe themfelves an Officer 
 called a Bar-matter, to be an indifferent 
 Perfon betwixt the Lord of the Field, or 
 Farmer, and the Miners, and betwixt the 
 Miners and Merchants ; which Bar- matter, 
 upon finding any new Rake or Vein ; did 
 (upon Notice given by the Miner) deliver 
 to the firft Finder two Mcers of Ground 
 in the fame Vein ; each Meer in a Rape 
 or Pipe-work containing 29 Yards in 
 Length, and in a Flat- work 14 Yards 
 fquare *, the which two Meers of Ground 
 the Miner is to have, one for his Dili- 
 gence in finding the Vein, and the other 
 for mineral Right*, paying the Bar-matter 
 or his Deputy one Difh of his firft Oar 
 therein gotten ; and then the Bar-matter 
 or his Deputy, is to deliver to the Lord 
 of the Field or Farmer, one Meer of 
 Ground in a new Vein, at either End of 
 the aforefaid two Meers half a Meer of 
 Ground * and then every one in fuch Rake 
 or Vein, one Meer, or more, according 
 to their Taking. 
 
 Art. 
 
( 249 ) 
 
 Art. 2. We fay if any Miner, or any 
 other fPerfon fet on an old Work, then 
 the Bar-mafter or his Deputy is but to 
 deliver him one Meer of Ground, on ei- 
 ther fide his Shaft half a Meer of Ground, 
 for which of mineral right he is to pay one 
 Difh of his firft Oar therein gotten** and 
 the Lord of the Field, or Farmer, is to 
 have no half Meer in an old Work ; but 
 every one is to be ferved according to his 
 taking. 
 
 Art. 3. We fay that no one ought to 
 fet on an old Work, or ancient PofTeffi- 
 on, without the Bar-mafter or his Depm 
 ty, and one or more of the Grand Jury , 
 or Twenty-four, of the Mine. 
 
 Art. 4. We fay, according to the C11- 
 from of the Mines v/ithin the Wapentake 
 of Wirkfworth , That Grooves, Shafts or 
 Meers of Ground, kept in lawful Pofiefu- 
 on, are an Eftate of Inheritance, and de- 
 fcend to the Heirs and Affigns of the O w- 
 ners ; and Wives to have Dowry in them. 
 
 Art. 5. We fay, If any Man (to the 
 knowledge of the Bar-mafter or his De- 
 puty) be lawfully poffefs’d of a Meer or 
 Meers of Ground, and does not willingly 
 defer t the fame, but his Slows are gone 
 by fome accident, or indirect means, it 
 fhall not be lawful for any other Perfon to 
 take or poftefs fuch Meer or Meers cf 
 Ground, till the Bar-mafter or his Deputy 
 M 5 fet 
 
( 250 ) 
 
 fet him thereon *, and the Bar-mafter or 
 his Deputy, before he fet any Man on 
 fuch Meer or Meers of Ground, fhall firft 
 take with him one or more of the Grand- 
 jury, or Twenty-four of the Mine ; and 
 go to the place where the Poffeflion, or 
 Poffeftions, of Stows Hood, for fuch Meer 
 or Meers of Ground, and then make open 
 Publication in the Mineral time of the 
 Day, That the Party or Parties whofe 
 Stows Hood for fuch Meer or Meers of 
 Ground, are gone, and taken away as a- 
 forefaid, that he or they fhall (within 
 four Days after fuch Publication) come, 
 and make good his or their Pofteflions for 
 fuch Meer or Meers of Ground ; but if 
 the Party fail to make good his or their 
 Poftefiion within four Days after, then 
 the Bar-mafter or his Deputy, and the 
 Grand-jnry-men, that was at fuch Publi- 
 cation, may fet on any other Man on fuch 
 Meers of Ground, to work according to 
 Cuftom. 
 
 Art. 6. We fay that neither the Bar- 
 mafter, nor his Deputy, ought to lay 
 forth or meafure any Man’s Ground, till 
 Oar be gotten in the fame Ground to free 
 it withal : and when the Ground is freed, 
 it ought to be meafured and laid forth, and 
 Meer Stakes fet the fame Day. 
 
 Art. 7. We fay, that every one ought 
 to keep his Ground in good and lawful 
 
 Polfeflion, 
 
( *S l ) 
 
 Pofleffion, with Stows and Timber in Mens 
 fight and that CroJJes and Holes , without 
 Stows and Timber , can keep Podefiion but 
 three Days. 
 
 Art. 8. We fay, that all Men ought 
 to work their Ground truly, and chafe 
 their Stool to their Grounds end ; and fo 
 each one from Meer to Meer, according 
 to the Cudom, unlefs they be judly hun- 
 dred by Water, or for want of Wind *, 
 and in fuch Cafes diligence out to be ufed, 
 to gain Wind, and to get out the Water. 
 
 Art. 9. We fay, that the Bar- made r, 
 and his Deputy, ought to walk the Mine 
 once a Week at lead, and where he fees a 
 Meer of Ground which to his knowledge 
 is lawfully podeffed, to (land unwrought 
 three Weeks together, and might be 
 wrought, not being hindered by Water, 
 or for want of Wind, then he ought, if 
 he can conveniently, to give notice to the 
 Parties, that negleft to work accordiag to 
 Cudom •, Then he fhall nick the Spindle , 
 each Week a Nick, for three Weeks to- 
 gether •, and if it be not wrought within 
 that time, nor borrowed of the Bar-mader 
 or his Deputy, then within two Days af- 
 ter the lad two Days of the faid three 
 Weeks, the Bar-mader or his Deputy 
 may lawfully fet on another Man on fuch 
 Meer or Meers of Ground, to work accord- 
 mg to cudom j and if the Bar-mader neg- 
 lect 
 
 - HI 
 
(252 ) 
 
 left to do his Duty herein, he fhall forfeit 
 five Shillings to the Lord of the Field, or 
 Farmer. 
 
 Art. io. We fay, that if two feveral 
 Parties or more fet Poffeffions for one and 
 the fame thing, claiming for one and the 
 fame Meer of Ground : Thereupon the 
 Party grieved fliall complain to the Bar- 
 mafler or his Deputy, who fhall forthwith 
 bring with him four or more of the Grand- 
 jury or Twenty- four to view the Poffeffi- 
 ons, and inform themfelves the befl way 
 they can, who hath the mofl ancient and 
 lawful Poffeffion for that Meer of Ground, 
 and fhall fettle the fame, calling off the o- 
 ther, and cut out tht Spindle of fuch Stows as 
 they fo cafl off : And if the Party whofePof- 
 feffions they fo caff off, think he has wrong 
 thereby, and think he has a good Title to 
 fuch Meer orMeers of Ground, he may put 
 a new Spindle into his Stows and any Time 
 within fourteen Days calling off, fet them 
 on again - 9 thereupon giving the Bar- mail- 
 er or his Deputy Four pence, to arrefl 
 fuch Meer or Meers of Ground, and fo 
 try his Title : But if he fet on his Stows , 
 and do not arrefl within Fourteen Days 
 after, as aforefaid, he fhall incur a fine 
 of Forty Shillings upon his Head for eve- 
 ry fuch Offence ; and the Bar-mafler or 
 his Deputy ought forthwith to burn his 
 Slows , in the mineral time of the Day : 
 
 And 
 
( 253 ) 
 
 And then if he Lets not another Pair of 
 Stows , and alfo arreft the Day after, his 
 Title to fuch Meer or Meers of Ground 
 fhall be deemed .unlawful, and to have no 
 Plea for the fame in the Barmoot-Court. 
 
 Art. 11. We fay, that the Lord of the 
 Field, or Farmer, fhall at all times hereaf- 
 ter provide and keep, between Merchant, 
 Buyer and Seller, a juft and right Mea- 
 sure or Difh , according to the ancient 
 Gage, and fuch a Number of them, as 
 (hall at all times of the Year conveniently 
 meafure all fuch Lead-Oar as is got in the 
 Wapentake of Wirkfworth ; and fuch Dijhes 
 ought to be feized every quarter of a 
 Year, by the Brazen-Dijh ,- in the pre- 
 fence of Four or more of the Grand-jury 
 or Twenty-four * and for a Pain every 
 time failing herein, to forfeit 3 s. 4 d. 
 
 Art. 12. We fay, that by the faid Dijh 
 or Meafure , the Lord of the Field, is to 
 take his Lot, which is the i^t\\DiJh or 
 Meafure , as it is juftly and cuftomarily 
 paid. But we fay that fmytham and fore- 
 fted Oar hath not (within the Memory of 
 Man) paid, nor ought to pay any Duties, 
 or Part, but Cope only . 
 
 Art. 13. We fay, that for the Pay- 
 ment of the faid Lot, Miners within the 
 Wapentake of Wirkfworth , ought to have 
 Liberty to work the Ground within the 
 Wapentake , and to have Timber alfo in 
 
 the 
 
( *54 ) 
 
 the King’s Wafts to work their Ground 
 withal, and egrefs and regrefs from the 
 Highways to their Grooves and Mines. 
 
 Art. 15, We fay, that the Bar-mafter, 
 or his Deputy, out to lay forth the Miners 
 the next way to the Highway, for going 
 and coming to and from their work, and 
 alfo for carrying to and from their Work, 
 the running Water to wafh their Oar 
 withal. 
 
 Art. 15. We fay, (by the cuftom of 
 the Mine) that all Miners and their Ser- 
 vants may wafh their Oar, with Fat and 
 Sieve upon their Works, fo that they 
 keep their Fats clofe covered, and empty 
 their Sludge into fome convenient Place, 
 within their length or quarter Cord, as 
 the Bar-mafter or his Deputy, fhall ap- 
 point, fo that the Cattle of the Owners or 
 Occupiers of the Land where fuchwafhing 
 is, may have no harm. 
 
 Art. 16. We fay, (by the Cuftom of 
 the Mine within the Wapen take of Wirkf- 
 werth) ’tis lawful for all the Liege People 
 of this Nation to dig, delve, fubvert, 
 mine and turn up all Manner of Grounds, 
 Lands, Meadows, Clofes, Paftures, Moor 
 or Marfhes for Lead Oar, within the faid 
 Wapentake, of whofe Inheritance foever 
 it is, Dwelling-houfes, High- ways. Or- 
 chards, or Gardens excepted ; but if any 
 arable Grounds, Lands, or Meadows be 
 
 digged. 
 
( 255 } 
 
 digged, delved, fubverted, or mined, and 
 not wrought lawfully according to the Cu- 
 flom of the Mine, then it may and fhall 
 be lawful for the Inheritors of the Ground 
 fo digged, fubverted, and mined, the fame 
 to fill up, at their Will andPleafure. 
 
 Art. 17. We fay, that no Perlon or 
 Perfons ought to keep any counterfeit Difh 
 or Meafure in their Houfes, Coes, or any 
 other Place, to meafure Oar withal, but 
 every one ought to buy and fell by the 
 Bar-mafter’s lawful Difh, and no other to 
 be ufed or had *, and every Buyer offend- 
 ing herein, fhall forfeit for every fuch Of- 
 fence Forty Shillings to the Lord of the 
 Field, or Farmer •, and the Sellers there- 
 of fhall forfeit their Oar, if it be taken at 
 fuch Time. 
 
 Art. 18. We fay, that if any poor Mi- 
 ner, or any other Perfon, have Oar (un- 
 der a Load) to meafure, and the Bar- ma- 
 iler or his Deputy have Notice thereof, 
 and do not (upon Warning and Requeft) 
 come to meafure the fame, then every fuch 
 Perfon may lawfully take two of his Neigh- 
 bours, and deliver his Oar to whom he 
 will, fo that the cuflomary Duties be 
 paid. 
 
 Art. ip. We fay, that the Bar-mafter 
 or his Deputy, fhall fee that meafure be 
 indifferently made betwixt the Buyer and 
 Seller 5 and the Buyer not to touch the 
 
 Dijh, 
 
( 256 ) 
 
 Dijh , or to put in his Hand to make mea- 
 fure, on pain to forfeit Ten Shillings. 
 
 Art. 20. We fay, that after the Oar is 
 meafured, the Merchant, Buyer, or Mi- 
 ner, that carries away the Oar, doth pay 
 to the Lord of the Field, or Farmer, 
 Cope , being Six pence of every Load of 
 Oar ^nmeDiJhes to the Load j for the which 
 Cope , the Miners or Merchants have Li- 
 berty to carry away the Oar, and fell and 
 difpofe of it to whom they pleafe, to their 
 beft Advantage, without the Difturbance 
 of any Man. 
 
 Art. 21. We fay, that if any Perfon, 
 or Perfons, will make any claim or Title 
 to any Grooves, or Meers of Ground, 
 Rake, Vein, or Oar, he ought to arreft 
 the fame, according to the cuftom of 
 Mine, and the Defendant ought to be 
 bound in a Bond ("with fufRcient Sureties 
 for him to the Plaintiff) to anfwer at the 
 next Bar moot- Courts to fuch A&ions as 
 (hall be brought againft him, by the Plain- 
 tiff, upon thefaid Arreftment ; and after 
 to yield fo much Oar, or the value thereof 
 to the Plaintiff, if the Defendant be caff, 
 by the Verdict of 12 Men ; as fhall be 
 gotten at fuch Grooves or Meers of Ground, 
 from the time of fuch Arreff, till fuch 
 Trial at the Barmoot-Court . 
 
 Art. 22. We fay, that after any Arreft 
 made, the Bar-mafter, or his Deputy, 
 
 upon 
 
(*5 7 ) 
 
 upon requeft made, ought to appoint a 
 Court-Barmoot within ten Days, or as foon 
 as he can conveniently : And if the Plain- 
 tiff do not purfue his Suit upon the Arreft, 
 he fhall then lofe Six Shillings and Eight 
 pence to the Steward ; and a Nonfoit fhall 
 pafs againfl him: And we fay, that a 
 Nonfuit is to be of the fame Effedl and Va- 
 lidity with a Verdidt 5 and every way to 
 fignify as much ; and if the Defendant fait 
 to make his Defence, a Verdidl fhall pafs 
 againfl him for his Default. 
 
 Art. 23. We fay, whofoever fhall be 
 condemned and call by a Verdidl of 
 twelve Men ; or otherwife, if a Jury, be 
 fummon’d and upon calling appear, if the 
 Plaintiff will not go on, and follow his 
 Suit, he fhall pay Four Shillings for 12 
 Mens Dinners : And Pawns fhall be put 
 in on both parts, into the Bar-mafler, or 
 his Deputy’s Hands, at the time of the 
 Arrefl, or within three Days following. 
 
 Art. 24, We fay, that the Defendant 
 ought to have fix Days time at leaft, be- 
 fore any Court, to prepare himfelf for his 
 Defence ; and what Arrefls are made 
 within fix Days next before the Court, the 
 Defendant may, ifhepleafe, refufe toan- 
 fwer, and not fuffer any Lofs thereby ; 
 and fuch Arrefls made within fix Days, to 
 be void, unlefs both Parties be willing to 
 go on to Tryal. 
 
 Art. 25. 
 
( ) 
 
 Art. 25. We fay, that the Bar-mafter, 
 or Steward, ought Yearly to keep two 
 great Bar-moot-Courts on the Mine, one 
 about Eafter , and the other about Michael - 
 mas y within fourteen Days before or af- 
 ter the faid times ; and every three Weeks 
 a Court, if need be, yearly. If either 
 Plain tiff or Defendant requefta Court, he 
 is to keep one within ten Days after fuch 
 Requeft, or forfeit Ten Shillings. 
 
 Art. 2 6. Wefay, if any Groove, Shaft, 
 or Meer of Ground be arrefted, all the 
 Oar got or meafured at fuch Groove, 
 Shaft, or Meer of Ground, from the Ar- 
 reft to the Trial, is liable to the Arreft : 
 And if the Verdift be found for the 
 Plaintiff, then the Defendant fhall pay 
 to him fo much Oar or the Value thereof, 
 as fhall appear by Evidence was gotten, 
 or meafured at fuch Groove, Shaft, or 
 Meer of Ground, from the time of the 
 Arreft, till the Tryal : And when the 
 Bar-mafter, or his Deputy, makes fuch 
 Arreft, he ought to take good Security 
 for the Oar that is to be meafured there, 
 or carried away to any other Place. 
 
 Art. 27. Wefay, that honeft and able 
 Men ought to be fummon’d for Jurors, 
 out of every Divifion within the IVapen- 
 take ; and to be fummon’d as near the 
 Court-day as may be *, and of every Divi- 
 fion fome to ferve, unlefs fome juft caufe 
 be (hewed to the contrary. Art. 
 
( 259 ) 
 
 Art. 28. We fay, that able fit Men, if 
 they be not Miners, if they have Parts 
 and be Maintained of Mines, and known 
 by the Bar- mailer, or his Deputy, to un- 
 deriland well the Cuftom of the Mine ; 
 they ought to ferve for Jurors, efpecial- 
 ly in difficult and weighty Matters and 
 Caufes. 
 
 Art. 29. We fay, that one Verdift for 
 Wages due to Workmen, fhall fully con- 
 clude and determine. And for the Title 
 that arifeth by Contract, as by Gift, Sale, 
 or Exchange, (or the like ) and alfo for 
 right of poffeflion, for Shafts or Meers of 
 Ground *, two of the firft Verdifls for one 
 Party, fhall fully conclude the Title. 
 
 Art. 30. We fay, that when a Verdifr 
 is gone for either Party, if he which hath 
 loft will have another Tryal for the Title, 
 he ought to arreft within Fourteen Days 
 next after the Court, when the Verdict 
 went againft him •, or elfe that Verdidl 
 fhall determine, and fully exclude him 
 from any further claim •, unlefsthat long- 
 er Time for Workmanfhip be abfolute- 
 ly neceflary to difcover the Truth: If 
 fo, then the Party grieved may within 
 fourteen Days caufe four or more of the 
 Grand-jury, or Twenty-four, to view the 
 Work in queftion \ and what time they 
 think fit for Workmanfhip to difcover the 
 truth j that they may allow, giving fuch 
 
 their 
 
( z6o ) 
 
 their doings funder their Hands) in writ- 
 ing to the Bar-mafter or his Deputy of 
 that Divifion : And if it proves the allow- 
 ed Time be too fhort, then the grieved 
 Party may again procure Four or more of 
 the Grand-jury, or Twenty- four to view 
 the Work a fecond Time ; and if they 
 then find that Workmanfhip hath been 
 duly made, and yet more time is requifite, 
 they may give longer time again, in man* 
 ner as aforefaid : And then if the Party 
 grieved arrefl not within ten Days after 
 the time is expired, that Verdidf that 
 went againft him fhall fully conclude and 
 determine the Title. 
 
 Art. 31. We fay, that no Perfon ought 
 to fue for Mineral Debt, Oar, Grooves, 
 TrefpafTes in Grooves or Grounds in Va- 
 rience, but only in the Barmoot-Court ; 
 and if any do the contrary, they fhall lofe 
 their Debt and Oar for which they are in 
 Controverfy, (and fhall pay the Charges 
 in Law, and lofe all their Grooves or 
 Meers of Ground, and Parts thereof to the 
 Party grieved, till upon juft account, he 
 have fatisfa&ion for all his Charges and 
 Expences in and about fuch Suits) to the 
 Lord of the Field or Farmer : Alfo all 
 fuch as fue out of the Barmoot-Court , as 
 aforefaid, ought to have no benefit, nor 
 Plea in Barmoot-Court . 
 
 Art. 32. We fay, no Officer ought, for 
 
 Trefpafs 
 
( 26l ) 
 
 Trefpafs or Debt, to execute or ferve any 
 Writ, Warrant, or Precept upon a Mi- 
 ner, being at his Work on Mine, nor 
 when the Miners come or go to the Bar - 
 moot-Court , but the Bar-mafter or his De- 
 puty only. 
 
 Art. 33. We fay, if two feveral Parties, 
 or more, be Groove-fellows, or Part- 
 owners to one Groove, or Meer of Ground, 
 and one or more of the Part-owners will 
 not keep Company nor pay his or their 
 proportional Part or Parts of all fuch 
 Workmanfhip, and other Charges and 
 Expences as are neceflary and conducing to 
 fuch Groove or Grooves, Meer or Meers 
 of Ground : Thereupon the Party griev- 
 ed fhall complain to the Bar-mafter, or 
 his Deputy who fhall take with him two 
 or more of the Grand-jury, or Twenty 
 Four, and fpeak to the Party or Parties 
 who neg!e< 5 t or refufe to pay Charges, 
 and keep Company as afore faid, and give 
 him or them warning to come in within 
 ten Days to pay Charges and keep Com- 
 pany with their Part-owners ; and if ('af- 
 ter warning given) the Party or Parties 
 refufe to pay Charges, or to come in and 
 keep Company as aforefaid ; then the 
 Bar-mafter or his Deputy, and the Grand- 
 jury, or Twenty-four, at their meeting 
 next following (unlefs fome juftcaufe be 
 fhewed to the contrary) may order the 
 
 Party 
 
- ( z6z ) 
 
 Party or Parties, that have refufed and 
 negledled to pay Charges, and keep Com- 
 pany, that he or they fhall come and pay 
 Charges, and keep his or their Part-own- 
 ers : And fuch order of the Grand-jury, 
 or Twenty-four is to be binding as though 
 it was at Barmoot-Court. 
 
 Art. 34. We fay, that when a Meer or 
 Meers of Ground are wrought under Wa- 
 ter, and by reafon thereof hath flood ma- 
 ny Years unwrought, and the Owner or 
 Owners of fuch Meer or Meers of Ground 
 do not ufe fome effectual means to get 
 forth the Water, to recover the fame ; 
 and that the fame might be wrought by 
 the means of a Sough , or Engine , and that 
 for the public good, but is yet negledled : 
 Thereupon any Perfon or Perfons, who 
 are minded to difburfe or lay forth Money, 
 to recover fuch Works from Water, may 
 at a great Barmoot Court held at TVirkf- 
 worth declare fuch their Intentions, in 
 Writing, to the Grand-jury, or Twen- 
 ty-four, and they fhall take the fame in- 
 to confideration ; and if they know fuch 
 Works to have flood fo long, by reafon 
 of Water, and no effe£lual means uled to 
 win the fame * and that the Perfon or 
 Pefons who defired to undertake to win the 
 fame by Soughs^ or otherwife,tobe ableMen, 
 and like to perfedt fuch a Work : There- 
 upon the Grand-jury, or Twenty-four 
 
 fhall 
 
( 263 ) 
 
 fhall appoint a Day (a Month after at 
 leaft) for themfelves, and the Party that 
 undertakes, and all the Owners of fuch 
 Works, to meet at the Place where fuch 
 Works are, and this time of meeting fhall 
 be publifh’d by the Cryer in the great 
 Barmoet-Court , that all Men may take 
 notice thereof. At fuch meeting the Un- 
 dertakers fhall give the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty-four, to underftand by what 
 means they intend to lay dry all fuch 
 Works, and to get out the Water, for 
 recovering the fame ; and if the Grand- 
 jury, or Twenty- four thereupon conceive 
 the way and means they propofe is like, 
 and effectual to recover fuch Work from 
 Water, fo that the Public may have ad- 
 vantage thereby, the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty- four, fhall acquaint the Owners 
 of fuch Works with the Intentions of the 
 Undertakers, concerning the recovery of 
 fuch Works from Water, and the way 
 and means they propofe for the doing of 
 it. And any of the Owners of fuch W orks 
 (if they pleafe) may join with the Under- 
 takers, paying their proportionable Parts 
 of the Charge of fuch Soughs or Engines as 
 fhall be made to recover the fame, ac- 
 cording to their Parts, and enjoy the Be- 
 nefit thereof. And fuch of the Owners 
 of fuch Works, as fhall not (by themfelves 
 or others by their Authority) appear at 
 
 fuch 
 
( 264 ) 
 
 fuch Meeting •, or then negledl or refufe 
 to join, and pay their proportionable Part 
 or Parts oh Charges of fuch Soughs or En- 
 gines as fhall be made and ufed for the 
 Recovery of fuch Works from Water, as 
 aforefaid : Thereupon the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty four, and Bar* matter, or his 
 Deputy, Ihall have Power to difpoffefs 
 fuch Owner or Owners, from their Part 
 or Parts, and to attign and deliver Poffef- 
 fion of fuch Part or Parts to the Under- 
 takers thereof, as aforefaid ; withal, or- 
 dering, That the Undertakers of fuch 
 Works (hall give to the Owners, that re- 
 fufe and negleft as aforefaid, fuch reafon- 
 able Satisfadlion as the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty-four fhall then think fit. And if 
 it happen, in the carrying on of the Bufi- 
 nefs for the Recovery of fuch Water- 
 Works, that any Difference arife betwixt 
 the Undertakers and the Owners of fuch 
 Works, or any of them, fo that the 
 Work is obftru&ed thereby then the 
 Grand-jury, or Twenty-four, being call- 
 ed together, fhall have Power to regulate 
 all fuch Difference, whereby the Work 
 may be effe&ually accomplifhedfor public 
 Good. 
 
 Art. 35. We fay, that when any Man 
 is poffeffed of a Groove or Meer of 
 Ground, and hath found the Vein, and 
 works therein, he ought to fuffer his 
 
 Neighbour, 
 
( 26 5') 
 
 Neighbour, who is the next taker, and 
 fhew him the bed Light and Direction he 
 can, which Way, and upon what Point 
 the Vein goeth : but in cafe any Man be lo 
 refractory as to deny his Neighbour fuch 
 a Courtefy, then he may procure three or 
 more of the Grand-jury, or Twenty-four, 
 to be fummoned, and the Bar-mafter, or 
 his Deputy, may put them into his 
 Groove, who hath the Vein in Work, 
 where they may (by ufing of a Dial, or 
 forne other Skill) fhew him that is the 
 next which Way, and upon what 
 
 Point the Vein goes, fo that he may 
 know thereby where to fink his Shaft to 
 find the Vein *, that the Field may be fet 
 forwards for the publick Good ; provided 
 always, that fuch of the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty-four, as go into the Groove a- 
 forefaid, fhall not do any other ACfc or 
 Thing, or make any other Difcovery of 
 fuch Groove, lave only to fee which 
 Way, and upon what Point the Vein 
 goes. 
 
 Art. 36. We fay, that where any Man 
 is lawfully polfefied of a Meer of Ground, 
 for any Rake or Vein, and works the 
 fame truly according to the Cuftom of 
 the Mine ; if any other Man fhall fetPof- 
 feffions at, or near his Fore-field ; pre- 
 tending for a crofs Vein, or fome other 
 Thing * and by Workmanfhip fhall be 
 N Prong! 7 
 
( 266 ) 
 
 ftrongly fufpedred to work in the fame 
 Vein, for which there is another in Pofief- 
 fion, and truly works the fame *, there- 
 upon the Party grieved may procure the 
 Grand-jury, or Twenty-four, to be fum- 
 moned to appear at the Place in Queftion; 
 they, or fo many of them as appear, (be- 
 ing above twelve,) fhall view the whole 
 Work ; and if thereupon they find, by 
 their bell Skill, the "Thing in all Probability 
 to be one and the fame *, and yet for want 
 pf Workmanfhip cannot then plainly ap- 
 pear, then fuch of the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty-four as appearand view, as afore- 
 faid, fhall give fuch their Opinions under 
 their Hands in Writing *, withal, order- 
 ing who they conceit works wrongfully, 
 forthwith to give the Party grieved good 
 Security, for all the Oar got at the Work 
 in Queftion, till Time and Workmanfhip 
 make the Truth appear ; but if the Party 
 who is to give Security, refufe to give fuch 
 Security, then fuch of the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty- four, as appear and view, as afore- 
 faid, fhall (by their Order under their 
 Hands) appoint the Bar-mafter, or his 
 Deputy, to feize and fequefter all the 
 Oar got at the Work in queftion, till. 
 Workmanfhip do make the Truth appear, 
 to whom the Vein belongs ; and when ei- 
 ther Party docs conceit that Workman- 
 fhip enough is made in it to make the 
 
 Truth 
 
( 267 ) 
 
 Truth appear, then either of them may*, 
 procure the Grand -jury, or Twenty- four, 
 to be fummoned again ; and fuch of them 
 as appear, being above Twelve, fhall view 
 the Work in Queftion •, if then, by Work- 
 manfhip, it may appear to whom the Oar 
 and Vein belongs, they may order it the 
 lame Party to whom they conceive it due ; 
 and if either Party think he hath wrong 
 thereby, he may arreft, and have his Tri- 
 al for his Right or Title. 
 
 Art. 37. We fay, that no Perfon lhail 
 come to any Workman that works his 
 Ground truly, upon any colour or Pretence 
 to claim his Ground , to hinder his 
 Work, or to (lop the Field ; but the firft 
 Workman fhall only work, and the Claim- 
 er arreft, and take the Law, and the Bar- 
 mafter fhall do him Law truly. 
 
 Art. 38. We fay, if any Vein or Rake 
 go crofs thro 9 another Rake or Vein, he 
 that comes to the Pee firft lhall have it, and 
 may work therein, fo far as he can reach 
 with a Pick , or Hack, having a helve three 
 Quarters of a Yard long, fo that he Hand 
 wholly within his own Cheeks, when he 
 works fuch a Pee. 
 
 Art. >7. We fay, that when two Veins 
 go together, parted with a Rither, that it 
 is fcarce difcernable whether it be two 
 Veins, or but one ; in this Cafe, fo long 
 as the Rither may be taken down by firing 
 N 2 on 
 
( 268 ) 
 
 firing on the one Side, it is to be taken 
 and reputed but for one Vein ; but inCafe 
 the Rither be fo thick that it cannot be 
 taken by firing on the one Side, and the 
 Veins go fo afunder, for half a Meer in 
 Length, then they are ferviceable to the 
 Miner, as two diftindl Veins. 
 
 Art. 40. We fay, that any Miner, in 
 an open Rake, may kindle and light his 
 Fire, after four of the Clock in the after- 
 noon ; giving hisNeighbour lawful Warn- 
 ing thereof. 
 
 Art. 41. We fay, if any Miner, or o- 
 ther Perfon, do under-beat his Neigh- 
 bour’s Meer, and work out of his own 
 length into another Man’s Ground, the 
 Party fo grieved may procure two or more 
 of the Grand-jury, or Twenty- four, to 
 view fuch a Trefpafs, and order the Party 
 that hath done the Wrong to give the Par- 
 ty grieved full as much Oar as the Value 
 thereof, as they conceive is gotten wrong- 
 fully, without allowing any Charge for 
 getting the fame *, and the Party offend- 
 ing herein fhall forfeit for every fuch Of- 
 fence five Shillings and four pence ; which 
 Fine the I$ar-mafter, or his Steward fhall 
 have. 
 
 Art. 42. We fay, that if any Miner, 
 or other Perfon doth work, and keep law- 
 ful Poffeflion of any Groove, Shaft, or 
 Meer of Ground, accoiding to the Cuftom 
 
 of 
 
( z6 9 ) 
 
 of the Mine ; if any Perfon or Perfons 
 (by Day or Night) cad in. or fill up fuch 
 Shaft, Groove, or Meer of Ground, how- 
 ever they fhall be wrought ; every fuch 
 Perfon offending herein fhall forfeit for e- 
 very fuch offence ten Pounds, the one half 
 to the Lord of the Field, or Farmer, and 
 the other half to the Rar-mafter, or Stew- 
 ard ; and pay the Party fo much as will 
 make good the Work again. 
 
 Art. 43. We fay, that if any Perfon 
 or Perfons fhall at any time go to any Gen- 
 tleman, or other Perfon, and give, fell, 
 or exchange any or Part or Parts of a 
 Groove, or Meer of Ground in Variance, 
 for Maintenance \ every Perfon fo offend- 
 ing fhall thereby lofe his Groove, or Meer 
 of Ground, or Part thereof in Variance j 
 and the Taker or Buyer fhall forfeit ten 
 Pounds to the Lord of the Field, or Far- 
 mer. 
 
 Art. 44, We fay, that if it happen that 
 any Miner be killed, or (lain, or damped 
 upon the Mine, within any Groove, nei- 
 ther Efcheator, Coroner, or any other 
 Officer ought to meddle therewith, but the 
 Bar-mafter, or his Deputy. 
 
 Art. 45. We fay, that no Perfon ought 
 to bring any unlawful Weapon to the 
 Mine ; and for every Rime fo doing, to 
 forfeit 3 s. 4 d. to the Steward, or Bar- 
 mafter :: And if any make an Affault or 
 N 3 Fray, 
 
( 270 ) 
 
 Fray on the Mine ; every fuch Perfon 
 ought to forfeit for every fuch Offence 40 s. 
 and for every Blood-flied againft the Peace, 
 § s. the one half to the Lord of the Field, 
 or Farmer, and the other Half to the 
 Bar- matter or Steward. 
 
 Art. 46. We fay, that every Man that 
 hath a Wafh-trough, ought to have feven 
 feet about the lame *, and if any Perfon 
 dig, delve, orfliovel in the laid Space, he 
 fhali forfeit for every fuch Offence ixd. to 
 the Steward : Alfo we fay, that no Per- 
 fon ought to dig, delve, or fhovelnear a- 
 ny Man’s Bing-place, upon pain to for- 
 feit nd. for every fuch Offence. 
 
 Art. 47. We fay, that no Perfon or 
 Perfons ought to cave upon any Man’s 
 Ground except the Owner be prefent on 
 the Ground, on Pain to forfeit the Oar 
 they get to the Owners of fuch Ground, 
 if they be taken : And alfo 6 d. to the 
 Lord of the Field, or Farmer, fo often as 
 they fhali be taken therewith. Alfo, no 
 Purchafer ought to ftop him, or any Mi- 
 ner, from any Walh-trough, atanyTime, 
 on Pain to forfeit for every fuch Offence, 
 12 d. to the Lord of the Field, or Far- 
 mer : Alfo, no Caver ought to purchafe 
 in any Man’s Ground, before eight of the 
 Clock in the Morning, nor after Four in 
 the Afternoon, on Pain to forfeit for eve- 
 ry fuch Offence, 1 2d. to the Lord of the 
 Field, or Farmer. Art, 
 
( * 7 * ) 
 
 Art. 48. We lay, that if any Perfons 
 felonioully take away any Oar or other 
 Materials from any Groove, Shaft, or 
 Meer of Ground, Houfc«, Coes, or 
 frnilting Houfes, or elfe where, if it be 
 under the Value of 13 d. halfpenny •, the 
 Bar-mafter, or his Deputy, fhail punifli 
 the Offender in the Stocks, or otherwife, 
 as is fit for fuch Offenders to be punifhed: 
 But if the Oar or other Materials be above 
 13 d, half-penny, we fay it is Felony. 
 
 Art. 49. We fay, that every Bar-mafter, 
 or his Deputy, ought to have a Pair of 
 Stocks, at fome convenient Place with- 
 in his Divifion ; the fame to be built 
 at the Charges of the Lord of the 
 Field, or Farmer *, by the Benefit arifing 
 out of the Fines ; and fuch Perfons as 
 fwear, curfe, or commit any other Mifde- 
 meanors on the Mine, fit to be punifhed 
 in the Stocks •, the Bar-mafter, or his 
 Deputy, fhail punifh fuch Offenders, at 
 any Time under theSpace of twelve Hours, 
 as the Offence fhail require. 
 
 Art. 50. We fay, that no Miner ought 
 to be fined or amerced by the Steward of 
 the Barmoot-Court for his not appearing 
 there, unlefs he have lawful Warning ; 
 but if lawful Warning and Summons be 
 given, and the Miner fail to come and 
 appear, according to Cuftom, the firft 
 Time is 2 d. and fo at every Court (if oc- 
 N 4 cafion 
 
( 2 7 * ) 
 
 cafion enllie) is double the lame, till it 
 come to $s. 4 d. whereof 5 s. is due to 
 the Lord of the Field, or Farmer, and 
 4 d. to the Steward : And in Cafe Twen- 
 ty-four Miners be fummoned on a Jury, 
 for a Trial betwixt Party and Party, to 
 appear at the Barmoot-Court j if there ap- 
 pear not 12 of them, whereby to have a 
 full Jury, then all fuch as fail in appearing 
 herein, fhall be fined, as the Bar-mailer, 
 or Steward pleafes, in any fum wot ex- 
 ceeding 10 j. provided always, they have 
 lawful Summons , and be able of Body to 
 come. 
 
 Art. 51. We lay, that if any Groove, 
 Shaft, or Meer of Ground be in Centro- 
 verly, and the Grand-jury, or Twenty- 
 four, be called to view that Shaft or 
 Meer of Ground, or to do or perform any 
 other Duty concerning the fame, and there- 
 upon make an Order, and give their Opi- 
 nions under their Hands in Writing, con- 
 cerning fuch Groove, Shaft, or Meer of 
 Ground in Controversy : Then fuch Or- 
 der, or Opinion, as the Grand-jury, or 
 Twenty-four, or Part of them make, be- 
 ing above four, may and ought to be pro- 
 duced in the Barmoot-Court at the Trial, 
 and there openly read, and fhewed to the 
 Jury, that they may take notice thereof as 
 they think fit. 
 
 Art. 52. We fay, that if the Grand- 
 
 jury, 
 
( *73 ) 
 
 jury, or Twenty-four, for the Mine, or 
 Part of them, be (by the Bur-mafter, or 
 his Deputy) called to view any Work 
 within Ground *, or to do, or perform any 
 other Office or Duty, concerning thefe,or 
 any other Articles, for the Cuftom of the 
 Mine ; if any Perfon or Perfons refill, or 
 hinder them therein, every one fo offend- 
 ing fhall forfeit for every one fuch Offence 
 5 /. the one Half to the Lord of the Field, 
 or Farmer, and the other Half to the 
 Bar-mailer, or Steward ; and if any refill 
 the Bar- mailer, or his Deputy, he may, 
 if need be, call any Miners to affill him, 
 and the Grand-jury, or Twenty-four, or 
 part of them ; and if any Miner neglect 
 or refufe herein, he fhall forfeit for every 
 fuch Negle< 5 l $s. to theLord of the Field, 
 or Farmer. 
 
 Art. 53. We fay, that the Bar-mailer, 
 or his Deputy, or the Steward, ought to 
 levy and collect all Fines, and Forfeits, 
 due by Cuftom of the Mine ; and where 
 any Perfon hath not Oar to difcharge the 
 fame, and is not otherwile able, or will- 
 ing to pay fuch Fines and Forfeitures * 
 then the Bar-mafter, or his Deputy, fhall 
 (for every fuch Offence) punilh every fuch 
 Perfon in the Stocks, to fit there twelve 
 Hours pining, with a Paper on his Back, 
 fhewing for what Offence he fits there ; 
 but in Cafe the Bar-mafter, or his Deputy, 
 N 5 or 
 
( ^ 74 * ) 
 
 or the Steward, do not henceforth levy 
 and collect all Fines and Forfeitures, due 
 by the Cuftom of the Mine, nor punifh 
 fuch Offenders in the Stocks, as are fit to 
 be punifhed ; they fhall forfeit for every 
 fuch Negledl to the Lord of the Field, 
 or Farmer. 
 
 Art. 54. We fay, if any other Miner 
 or Miners, or any other Perfon or Per- 
 fons, be poffeffed of a Meer or Meers of 
 Ground, or Part or Parts thereof, and 
 work it truly, according to the Cuftom 
 of the Mine ; if there be any Perfon or 
 Perfons that fhall or will make Claim or 
 Title to the fame, or any Part thereof; 
 that he or they fhall come and make their 
 Claims (either by themfelves, or by fome 
 Agent employed by them) before the Bar- 
 mafter, or his Deputy ; and within fix 
 Months after the fame fhall be in Work- 
 manfhip ; and if denied of what he or 
 they lhall claim, he or they muft arreft: 
 within fourteen Days after the faid Claim 
 and Denial, or elfe his or their Title fhall 
 be deemed unlawful, and to have no Plea 
 for it in the Barmwt-Court . 
 
 Art. 55. We fay, whereas we find by 
 daily Experience, that great Abufes, and 
 many Inconveniences do arife, by Perfons 
 raking Part on both Sides, and only put- 
 ting h in their Pazvns x and will neither 
 maintain with Plaintiff nor Defendant for 
 
 their 
 
( 275 ) 
 
 their neceflary Charges •, and they fo refu- 
 fing to pay, poor Men are many Times 
 utterly undone and overthrown. Where* 
 upon we order and agree, (that where a- 
 ny Controverfy fhall happen about any 
 Groove or Grooves, Meer or Meers of 
 Ground in QueftionJ where fuch Suit a* 
 rifeth, if any Perfon or Perfons claim any 
 particular Part or Parts of a Meer of 
 Ground in Queftion, where fuch Suits a- 
 rifeth ; if any Perfon or Perfons make 
 Claim on both Sides, and -would only de- 
 fend his or their Part or Parts of Pawns 
 on both Sides. We fay, that it fhall not 
 be fufficient for any Perfon or Perfons to 
 defend his or their Part or Parts by fuch 
 Means only *, but he or they muff either 
 take to the Plaintiff or Defendant, to de- 
 fend his or their Part or Parts, according 
 to the Cuftom of the Mine ; that is to 
 fay, he fhall pay his or their Part or Parts 
 of Charges, as fhall be needful to make 
 the Truth appear, in trying of the Caufe 
 or Caufes, as well as putting in their Part 
 or Parts of the 4 s. 6 d. for the Pawn or 
 Pawns *, and Charges being lawfully de- 
 manded of fuch, before the Bar-mafter of 
 the Liberty, and one or more of the Grand 
 Jury, or Twenty-four; if the Party or 
 Parties of whom Expences in fuch Suits 
 and Trials is demanded, as aforeftid, do 
 not pay the fame Charge within four Days 
 
 after 
 
( *7 6 ) 
 
 after it is lawfully demanded ; then fuch 
 Party or Parties, refufing or neglecting 
 to pay the fame after fuch Demands, fhall 
 forfeit his or their Part or Parts to the 
 Parties grieved, to be equally divided a- 
 mongft them, according to their propor- 
 tionable Parts. 
 
 Art. 56. We do order and fay, that if 
 anyPerfon that works for Wages at any 
 Groove, or Grooves, Shaft or Shafts, 
 Meer or Meers of Ground, within, the 
 laid Soak and Wapentake, and fhall have 
 his or their Wages wrongfully detained 
 or with-held from him or them, by the 
 Owner or Owner’s Servant, or Agents, at 
 any of the faid Grooves-, Shaft or Shafts, 
 Meer or Meers of Ground; that then, if 
 fuchPerfon orPerfons, from whom fuch 
 Wages fhall be due, or from his or their 
 Servants or Agents employed to manage 
 their Mines, do not well and truly pay 
 fuch Wages as fhall be due to any Work- 
 man or Servant, within ten Days after an 
 Account given, and Demand made of fuch 
 Perfon or Perfons Servant or Agents; that 
 then in fuch Cafe, the Workman or Ser- 
 vant who fhall be behind in Arrear, and 
 unpaid, as aforefaid, may arreft, where 
 fuch Work was done, or elfewhere, with- 
 in the faid Soak or Wapentake, his or 
 their Part or Parts of Oar, or other Ma- 
 terial, where fuch Perfon or Perfons Ser- 
 vant 
 
( 277 ) 
 
 ’vant or Agent (doth not pay as aforefaid) 
 are concerned, or have any Part or Parts 
 thereof, and fo bring it to Trial at the 
 next Barmoot-Court •, and if lech Perfon 
 or Perfons, Servants or Agents, Defen- 
 dant or Defendants fhall be cad, and con- 
 demned by the Verdidt of Twelve Men ; 
 then fuch Defendant or Defendants fhall 
 pay all fuch Wages forthwith, which fhall 
 be given in Damage, and io s. over and 
 befides, for and towards the Cofts of fuch 
 Workmen or Servants, Plaintiff or Plain- 
 tiffs, in the Recovery of fuch juft Wages, 
 if their Oar be fufficient under Arreft to 
 defray the faid Charge *, but if not, and 
 fuch Defendant or Defendants refufe and 
 neglecft ftill to pay fuch Wages and Charges 
 as aforefaid then the Bar-mafter of the 
 Liberty where the faid Defendants have 
 any Grooves, fhall have Power to levy the 
 fame by Diftrefs and Sale of che Defendant 
 or Defendants Oar, or Mineral Materials, 
 if any ^ or otherwife, he fhall deliver all 
 his or their Grooves, or Parts thereof, to 
 the Plaintiff, to work until the Coft and 
 Damages be fully paid, with all Charges 
 in working the fame : And the Bar-ma- 
 fter fhall not negledt this prefent Article, 
 on Pain to forfeit to the King, or his Far- 
 mer) 5 s. 4 d. and to the Party grieved 
 5 s. And if the Defendant or Defen- 
 dants fhall contemn or difbbey this Article y 
 
 or 
 
( 278 ) 
 
 or hinder the Bar-mafter in the Difcharg* 
 of his Duty, that then every fuch Offen- 
 der fhall forfeit for every fuch Offence 
 20 s. to the King’s Majefty, or to his Far- 
 mer. 
 
 Art. 57. Alfo we order and fay, that 
 from henceforth, when any Perfon or 
 Perfons fhall complain at any great Bar- 
 moot-Court , for want of Company and 
 Charges,that fuchComplainants fhall have 
 a juft Bill of Charges (if fuch can be had) 
 annexed to the Bill of Complaint, which 
 the Twenty-four fhall have Power to deter, 
 mine : Or, at leaff, he or they fhall de- 
 clare upon his or their Oaths to the Grand- 
 jury, or Twenty-four •, and if fuch Sum 
 or Sums be not paid into the refpedtive 
 Bar-mafler’s Hands ('for the Ufe of the 
 faid Complainants) within ten Days after 
 Warning given them *, then the Bar- 
 mafter may and fhall deliver Poffeffion, 
 according to the faid Order : But if the 
 Perfon or Perfons complained againft, or 
 their Agents, be not refident within the 
 S 'oak and JVapentake of Wirkfworth , or if 
 upon diligent Enquiry made by the Bar- 
 mafter, within twenty Days after the faid 
 Order to him delivered, that fuch Perfon 
 or Perfons cannot be found to be refident* 
 nor his Agents, as aforefaid ; that then in 
 fuch Cafe, the Bar-mafter may take with 
 him one or more of the Grand-jury, or 
 
 Twenty 4 
 
( 279 ) 
 
 Twenty-four, and go to the Groove of 
 Grooves, Meer or Meers of Ground, 
 where fuch Company and Charges are 
 wanting ^ and therein the Mineral Time 
 of the Day, openly declare, that fuch Per- 
 fon or Perlons fhall come in, and keep 
 Company, and pay fuch Charges, as is 
 contained in the faid Order, within 
 ten Days after, or lofe his or their Part 
 or Parts. And if fuch Charges be not 
 paid according to the fame Order, then 
 the Bar-mafter, or his Deputy, may, and 
 fhall deliver Poffeftion, according to the 
 faid Order, to the faid Complainants ; And 
 the Bar-mafter fhall not neglecft his Duty 
 herein, on pain to forfeit x o s. to the King, 
 or his Farmer. 
 
 Art. 58. We fay, that no Perfon or 
 Perfons fhall let, hinder, or deny the 
 Bar-mafter and Twenty-four, or any of 
 them, by Firing, or any other Ways or 
 Means whatfoever, from going into any 
 of their Grooves, Shaft, or Shafts, Meer 
 or Meers of Ground, to view and fee whe- 
 ther any Wrong or Trefpafs be committed 
 between Party or Party : Nor for plum- 
 mingand dialling in any of their Grooves, 
 Shafts, or Meers of Ground for the End, 
 and fetting (freight of Matters in Contro- 
 vcrfy, on pain of every one fo offending 
 to forfeit for every fuch Offence 40 s. of 
 good and lawful Englijh Money, where- 
 
( z%o ) 
 
 of 20 to the King’s Majefly, or his Far- 
 mer, and the other 20 to the Party wrong- 
 ed or grieved *, provided always, that the 
 Bar- matter and Twenty- four, or any two 
 or more of them, come at lawful and con- 
 venient Times of the Day. 
 
 Art. 59. The Grand-jury or Twenty- 
 four for the Body of the Mine, do order 
 and fay, that from henceforth, every Mi- 
 ner and Maintainer of Mines, within the 
 Soak and Wapentake of Wirkfworth , fhall 
 prefer their Bills of Complaint at every 
 grea tBarmootCourt againft theirPart-owner 
 or Part-owners, Groove- fellow, or Groove- 
 fellows, in open Court, during the Time 
 of the Steward’s fitting, and not after any 
 Adjournment *, to the End that every Per- 
 fon concerned, or againft whom any Bill 
 is preferred, may have legal Proceedings, 
 in open Court, according to the Cuftom 
 of the Mine. 
 
 The End of the Eirji Book, 
 
( 28 i ) 
 
 BOOK II 
 
 The Form of a Bill of Complaint, put up 
 at the Great Barmoot Court held at 
 Wirkfworth , April 12. 1681. 
 
 J Ohn Woodhave, and his Groove-Fel- 
 lows complain themfelves to this Court , 
 againft William Holdfaft and Robert Non- 
 pay, or any other that claims under fkm , 
 or either of them* for not coming in and keep- 
 ing Company at the Old Man's Groove* oh 
 the Cole-hills* in the Pens Parks* king with- 
 in the Liberty of Wirkfworth, and Jurif 
 diction this Court \ and far not faying the 
 Sum of . which is due for them to pay \ 
 being 40 s» a piece for either of their eight 
 Parts to fay \ And therefore prays relief \ 
 
 The Form of a Crofs Bill, at the fame 
 Court, 
 
 At the Great Barmoot- Court held at Wirkf- 
 worth , for the Soak and Wapentake of 
 Wirkfworth , April 12, 1681. 
 
 Whereas , John Wood have, and his 
 Groove-Fellows , have complained themfelves 
 to this Court * againjl William Holdfaft, 
 
 and 
 
( 2%2 ) 
 
 and Robert Non-pay, or any that claims 
 under them , or either of them , for not coming 
 in and keeping Company with them at the 
 Old Man’s Groove on the Cole-hills , being 
 within the Liberty of Wirkfworth, and Ju- 
 rifdi biion of this Court , and for not paying 
 the Sum of 4I. which they fay is due for 
 them to pay, being 40 s. apiece for either of 
 our eight Parts : We the aforefaid William 
 Holdfaft and Robert Non-pay, do hereby 
 declare to prove the Payment of the af orefaid 
 4 1 . being 40 s. for either of our eight 
 Parts : And therefore pray to be difmift . 
 
 At the Great Barmoot-Court held at 
 Wirkfworth , April, 12. 1681. 
 
 The Names of the Jurors, and their Ver-^ 
 did: upon the aforefaid Bill. 
 
 William Stone. 
 Henry Stafford . 
 Adam Bell . 
 Clement Clough . 
 Thomas Twigg . 
 John Hill. 
 Anthony Wood. 
 William Ward. 
 Robert Stand. 
 William Winkat. 
 Henry Neerheed. 
 Jofeph Knowfnot . 
 
 Robert Letjlip. 
 William C aft by. 
 Adam Smoker. 
 Thomas Shepphard. 
 Anthony Long. 
 Richard Short. 
 Gervis Standby. 
 John Hanger. 
 Abraham Woodwit. 
 Samuel Wagftaffe. 
 Elias Pool. 
 
 Martin Spencer. 
 
( 283 ) 
 
 We the [aid Jurors , being elected , /worn 
 and charged , ^ f upon Our Oaths ) order 
 and fay, That William Holdfaft, and Ro- 
 bert Non- pay, or any one that claims under 
 them , or either of them , Jhall come in and 
 keep Company with John Wood have, and 
 his Groove-Fellows •, and Jhall pay the Sum 
 of 4 1. being 40 s. apiece for either of their 
 eight Parts to pay , which they are behind 
 and in Arrear , at the Old Man’s Groove , 0# 
 the Cole-hills, being within the Liberty of 
 Wirkfworth and Jurifdiffion of this Court , 
 within ten Days after lawful Warning given, 
 or Publication made, according to the Article + 
 or lofe their Parts . 
 
 Then you muft return the Crofs-Bill 
 Ignoramus. 
 
 The Form of a Bill made at the fmall 
 Court-Barmoot, for tryal of Tides. 
 
 At the fmall Court-Barmoot held at 
 — the 13 th Day of April , 1682. 
 
 Edward Wood, and his Groove-Fellows, 
 complain themfeives to this Court , againjl 
 James Wilde, and his Groove-Fellows , for 
 unjuftly entering into, and detaining from the 
 Complainants one Founder Meer of Ground 
 in a Grofs rake, difcovered out of the great 
 White Rake, within the Liberty of Crum- 
 
 ford 
 
( 284 ) 
 
 Ford, and Jurifdiftion of this Court (on 
 Crumford-Moor ) and alfo one Firfi Faker 
 Meer of Ground Eaftward y ora Poffeffion for 
 a Fir ft- Faker Meer \ and for getting therein 
 and carrying away y One Fhoufand Loads of 
 the Plaintiff’s Lead-Oar, and converting 
 it to the Defendants own ufe y to the Plain- 
 tiff s Damage of a Fhoufand and Fifty Pounds ; 
 And thereupon they bring their Suit , and 
 crave relief. 
 
 The Defendants appear and plead the 
 fix Months Article in Bar., 
 
 Jurors £. D. A, B. F % F, 
 
 Names E \ W, R . C. A . F. 
 
 A, IF 7 . H. F. R. 
 
 H. C, F. P, IV. F. 
 
 We the faid Jurors being elefted, 
 fworn and charged to fay the 
 Truth in the Fremifes, upon our Oaths 
 fay. That the Defendants are not guilty of 
 entering into and detaining from the Com- 
 plainants, one Founder-meer of Ground 
 in a Crofs Rake, difcovered out of the 
 great White Rake, within the Liberty of 
 Crumford y and Jurifdi&ion of this Court 5 
 (on Crumford Moor) nor for entering into 
 one Firfi: taker meer Eaftward, as in the 
 Bill is fet forth. Therefore (according to 
 feveral Cuftoms and Articles ufed within 
 
 the 
 
( 28 5 ) 
 
 the faid Soak and Wapentake) upon our 
 Oaths do further fay, That the Complain- 
 ants fhall pay 4 s. for 1 2 Men’s Dinners, 
 &c. 
 
 The Form of a Bill put to the Twen- 
 ty-four, when called to view a 
 Mine in queftion. 
 
 William Fainwood, and John HavealJ, 
 and their Groove Fellows to the Grand- ju- 
 ry, or T wenty-four , for the Soak and 
 Wapentake of Wirkfworth *, being called 
 to the Gang- Rake, on Middletown-m^r, 
 within the Liberty 0/Middletown afore- 
 faid, the 16th of April 1681. 
 
 You are defired to go down at the 
 Hedge fhaft, and fo through the Drift, 
 and down the Turn, and then through 
 the Drift at the Turnfoot, and fo through 
 the King’s half Meer, then through the 
 Hole at the Rither Point into Bates work, 
 and fo up his Turn and Shaft to the Day, 
 and to give your Opinions, whether it be 
 not all one and the fame Vein. 
 
 Then as many as judge it to be one 
 and the lame Vein, write their O* 
 pinion, if they exceed 1 2. 
 
 Some 
 
( 286 ) 
 
 Some Examples of Dialling. 
 
 H AVING provided yourfelf of a 
 Dial in a fquare Box, or a long 
 fquare Box, which is better *, and alfo of 
 a two Foot Rule ; and a String or Cord 
 with a Plummet at the End ; fuppofeyou 
 be defired, or (to try your own Skill) 
 would know the exaft depth of a Hading 
 Shaft and Turn, and how far they are 
 driven in thatMeer of Ground to an Inch. 
 Firft caufe fome one to go down the Shaft, 
 then let your Cord or String down after 
 them as far as you can, till it touch fome- 
 where on the Side, obferving the moft 
 convenient Place at the Stows , where the 
 String will go down deepeftand not touch 
 the Sides, and where the Plummet touch- 
 es the Side, bid him make a Mark at the 
 end thereof *, Then the String hanging 
 there, apply the Side of your Dial there- 
 to, as near crofling the Rake as you can 
 judge by the handling below, and ob- 
 serve what Point the Needle Hands on, 
 which here you may fuppofe to be 52. 
 and this Point you muff keep for your 
 fquare ; then pull up the String, and 
 meafure it, and fet the length thereof 
 down in Rules and Inches, under which 
 
 the 
 
( 287 ) 
 
 the word Depths as you may fee in the 
 Example following, which you may fup- 
 pofe here to be 24 Rules, and Inches 00 
 which when you have fet down and the 
 
 ) x>int 52 diredtly over againftit ; then go 
 lown to the place where he made the mark 
 .n the Shaft, and becaufe your Shaft hades, 
 put one end of your Rule to the place 
 where he made the mark, and lay the 
 Rule crofs into the Shaft ; then apply 
 your Dial to the edge of the Rule, and 
 wave the Dial and Rule up and down toge- 
 ther till you fee the Needle ftand upon 52, 
 your fquare point ; then from the molt 
 convenient place of your Rule ("whether it 
 be at the end, or in the middle, where 
 the Cord will go down the deepeft and 
 not touch the fides) there hold the Cord, 
 and where it touches the fide at the end be- 
 low, there bid him make a mark ; then 
 (observing what Inches lies againft at the 
 Rule as here at 22) pull up the Cord, and 
 meafure the length thereof, from the 
 Rule to the mark below ; not forgetting 
 to hold your finger fall upon the Cord, 
 which you may luppofe to be 16 Rules *, 
 which (becaufe your plumming) muft be 
 fet down under Depth ; Then haveing fet 
 down your point 52, and the 22 Inches in 
 their refpeclive places, as in the Example 
 following appears, go down to the Place 
 where he made the laft Mark * and put- 
 ting 
 
( 288 ) 
 
 ting one end of your Rule thereto, lay the 
 other into the Shaft, and apply your Di- 
 al to the edge of the Rule, and wave 
 them up and down together as you did be- 
 fore, till you fee the Needle {land upon 
 52, the Rule and Dial lying clofe toge- 
 ther, let down your Cord as fir as you can 
 till the Plummet touch the fide below, 
 holding the String at the middle or end of 
 the Rule, or where you fee it will go 
 down the deepeft, and not hang on the 
 fides *, then bid him make a mark below, 
 where the Plummet touches the fide-, which 
 done, pull up the Cord and meafure the 
 length, firft obferving at what Inches of 
 the Rule you held it •, and fo fet down your 
 Depth , Pointy and Length in their right 
 places, which here you may fuppofe to be 
 26 Rules and 14 Inches, point 52, and 
 the crofs Length taken thereon, 1 Rule 
 and 2 Inches : Then go down to the 
 mark he laft'made, and putting one end 
 of the Rule therein, lay the other crofs, 
 as before, and apply the fide of the Dial 
 to the edge of the Rule, and wave them 
 up and down till the Needle Hands on 52 ; 
 then letdown the String on the Shaft foot, 
 and bid him make a mark below, obferving 
 that the String touches no where on the 
 fides, betwixt you and the mark he makes 
 at the Shaft foot ; fo obferving what Inch 
 the String lies at againfl at the Rule, pull 
 
( ^9 ) 
 
 pull it up and meafure it, how many 
 Rules it is, which you may fuppofe here 
 to be 28 Rules and 22 Inches, which fet 
 down, and the point 52, and alfo the 
 number of Inches where the String lies up- 
 on the Rule, which here is 1 8 Inches 5 and 
 fo you have finifked the Shaft: Then go- 
 ing down to the Shaft foot, hold the Dial 
 where the mark was made, and fet the 
 Needle upon 52 *, and if there be any oc~ 
 cafion to take a fhort crofs length, where- 
 by to give you better liberty to take a 
 long length in the drift; then take the 
 fhort length, the Needle {landing upon 
 52, apply the String parallel to the fide 
 of the Dial ; and having made a mark at 
 the End of the fhort Length, meafure how 
 many Rules and Inches it is, (and fet it 
 down ) which you may fuppofe here one 
 Rule and ten Inches : Then fet down the 
 Point dire&ly againfl it, by which you 
 take that length as 52 ; which done, give 
 him that is with you, the End of the 
 String, and let him go back into the. 
 Drift as far as he can, till the String be- 
 gins to touch fomewhere on the Side of 
 the Middle, and then holding one End of 
 the String in the Mark you made, when 
 you took the fhort Length ; obferve that 
 the String touches no where betwixt him 
 and you ; then apply the Side of your Di- 
 al to the String, taking notice that the 
 O Dial 
 
( 290 ) 
 
 Dial and String lie ftreight one with ano- 
 ther, and fo take the Point the Needle 
 ftands on which here you may fuppofe to be 
 36 ; then let him that is on the other End, 
 either make a mark on the Side, or drop 
 a Stone to the Sole of the Drift, as you 
 find occafion ; which done, draw the 
 String back, and meafure it, and fet the 
 Length thereof down in Rules and Inches, 
 which you may here fuppofe to be 22 
 Rules and 8 Inches, and overagainft it the 
 Point 36 : Then go to the Place where he 
 dropt the Stone or made the mark, and 
 laying the Rule or String crofs, the End 
 being in the Mark, take a lhort Length 
 (as you find Occafion) fetting the Needle 
 upon 52 ; which done, fet down the 
 Point, and this IhortLength overagainft it, 
 which here you may fuppofe to be ten In- 
 ches * ? having fo done, and made a Mark, 
 or dropt a Plum at the End of thefe ten 
 Inches, this lhort Length will give you 
 Liberty to take a long Length forwards 
 in the Drift : So let him take the String, 
 and go as far backwards as he can ’till the 
 String almoft touches fomewhere in the 
 Middle on the Side ; then (holding one 
 End in the Mark you laft made, when you 
 took the fhort length) ftretch the String 
 ftreight and apply the fide of the Dial to 
 the String, and take the Point the Needle 
 ftands on, which here you may fuppofe to 
 
( * 9 * ) 
 
 be 36 $ fo fet down the Point, and bid 
 him make a Mark at the End ; then puli 
 back the String and Meafure it, fetting 
 down the length directly againft the Point 
 you lafttook, which you may here fuppofe 
 to be 24 Rules and 14 Inches *, and that 
 to reach to the Turn-head. So being 
 now come to the Turn-head, you muft 
 fall to plumming again. 
 
 Therefore fet the Needle upon 52, your 
 old Square, and if there be any need, to 
 take a fhort length, whereby to give you 
 liberty to plum the deeper in the Turn, 
 then you muft take it ; fo bidding him 
 go down the Turn, let the String down 
 after him, and where it touches on the 
 Side let him make a Mark ; you holding 
 one End of your Rule in the Mark that 
 was made at the Turn-head, lay the Edge 
 of the Rule to the fide of the Dial , and 
 wave them together till the Needle ftands 
 upon 52; then fet down that fhort Length, 
 which you may here fuppofe to be 8 Inch- 
 es, and pull up the String and meafure it ; 
 which you may here fuppofe to be 2S 
 Rules and 6 Inches •, fet it down, and the 
 Point 52 alfo ; which done, g a down to 
 the Mark he made *, andbecaule theTurn 
 hades, put one End of the Rule in the 
 Mark, and lay the other crofs* into the 
 • Turn ; fo put the Side of the Dial to the 
 Edge ol the Rule, and wave them toge- 
 
(292) 
 
 ther, till the Needle ftands upon 51 * 
 Then Jet the String down to the Turn- 
 foot ; if it will not touch the Tides betwixt 
 the Turn-foot and you ; fo holding the 
 String at the End of the Rule, fet down 
 this Jhort Length, which is 1 Rule, and 
 the Point 52 ; and bidding him make a 
 Mark at the Turn- foot, meafure the 
 Length, which you may here fuppofe to 
 be 30 Rules and 2 Inches •, And fo you 
 have plummed the Turn. 
 
 If you have any further to Dial, obferve 
 t© take your fquare point, where there is 
 this Occafion % for if you omit taking 
 your Square you will lofe yourfelf in the 
 Exa6tnefs of the Ground’s Length, fome- 
 times making it more, and fometimes 
 lefs than really it is, and fo commit 
 great Error, when you come to Dial it a- 
 bove Ground : You muft alfo take Care 
 that you hold your Rule level, when you 
 take your crofs Lengths in Drifts, and by 
 that Means you will have the exadl Depth : 
 You mull alfo obferve that your Rule and 
 String lie.parraliel with the Edge of your 
 Dial, that is, equally at both Ends ; or 
 elfe you will mifs in taking the true Point. 
 Under Ground the Dial is guided by the 
 String but above Ground the String is 
 guided by the Dial, 
 
 Example, 
 
( 2 93 ) 
 
 Example! 
 
 Depth. Points . Length . 
 
 Ru . 
 
 2 4 — 
 
 16... 
 
 Inch. 
 
 .no - - 
 
 
 Ru. 
 
 00.-— 
 
 Inch . 
 
 — . 00. 
 
 nn 
 
 t> * ni 
 
 52 
 
 <2. 
 
 00 
 
 __ 22. 
 
 26... 
 
 _ 14 .-- 
 
 .01. 
 
 _ 02. 
 
 
 1 11 * 1 • 11 - 
 
 -j **• — 
 
 » r* O .mwm 
 
 
 18. 
 
 z 0 . • 
 
 00 . 
 
 00.- 
 
 nrt _ 
 
 J 1 1 Z X'. 1 " m 
 
 . on --- 
 
 52. 
 
 .52. — 
 .36. — 
 .52. — 
 .36. — 
 
 ■5*. — 
 
 -52. — 
 
 uu. 
 
 .AT 1 
 
 — 10. 
 
 ' ■ • V/W. ■ " 1 ■ 1 
 
 —•—no -- 
 
 "V 1 * - 
 
 .7 O — ■ 
 
 08. 
 
 — W.— 
 
 00.— 
 
 — 00.— 
 
 .OO -- 
 
 — 10. 
 
 UU, “ 
 
 00.- 
 9 0 
 
 ’UU,— ■ ■ 
 
 •24.— 
 
 nn 
 
 — 14 .. 
 
 — * ^r» 
 
 — 08 
 
 0 , m 
 
 30.- 
 
 vU »— • 
 
 —02.——. 
 
 or.-— 
 
 —-OO. 
 
 w 152 44 Inch. 
 
 And the Rule containing a Foot, it 
 makes in all 307 Foot and 8 Inches for 
 the Depth of the Shaft and Turn j which 
 by Redu&ion makes 51 Fathoms, 1 Foot 
 and 8 Inches, for the true Depth of that 
 Mine. 
 
 o 3 
 
 Example. 
 
( 294 ) 
 
 Example. 
 
 44 Inches make 3 Foot 8 Inches which 
 fet below the 304 ; and added makes 
 3°7°*V 
 
 add 1 52. 
 
 152. 
 
 Sum In /ingle 304. Foot. 
 
 SS*. add. 
 
 307. Foot. 
 
 Now, if you would know how much 
 your Shaft and Turn haded, you 
 muft add up the Lengths that ftand a- 
 gainft your Square-point 52. As for Ex- 
 ample. 
 
 Rules. 
 
 Inches . 
 
 00. 
 
 22. 
 
 01. 
 
 02. 
 
 00. 
 
 18. 
 
 01. 
 
 02. 
 
 00. 
 
 10 . 
 
 00. 
 
 08. 
 
 ©1. 
 
 00. 
 
 ° 3 < 
 
 70. Inches. 
 
 Which 
 
( ^95 ) 
 
 Which by Reduction makes 1 1 Foot 
 and io Inches ; and fo much your Shaft 
 and Turn hades. To know the exaft 
 Length you have driven in your Grouud, 
 without laying it forth above, you muft 
 add up the Rules and Inches that Hands 
 under the Word Length , againft your by- 
 points , which in this Example is only 
 Rules 22. and 8. Inches. 
 
 and 24. and 14. 
 
 j that is , Rules 46. and 22 Inches. 
 
 Which by Redudion is 93 Foot and 
 10 Inches , which make 31 Yards 10 Inch - 
 es you have driven; but if you are to Dial 
 and lay it above Ground, fet the Dial up- 
 on the Point 52 ; and looking in your 
 Note for 22 Inches which was the firft 
 Length ; put one End of the Rule to the 
 Place of the Stows where you held the 
 String when you began to plum the Shaft ; 
 the Rule lying to the Side of the Dial , and 
 the Needle Handing upon 52, make a 
 Mark at 22 Inches upon the Ground ; and 
 fo you have done the firft Point : And in 
 like Manner you muH do all the ReH, if 
 you go over thefe. Points fingly, one by 
 one ; but becaufe here is feveral fquare 
 Points before you come to any by-point, 
 that goes as the Rake goes ; therefore 
 you may take all thefe fquare Points toge- 
 O 4 ther. 
 
( 296 ) 
 
 fher, firft adding their Lengths up, and 
 knowing how many Rules and Inches they 
 make : As for Example. 
 
 Ru . 
 
 Inch . 
 
 The firjl Point is 00. 
 
 22. 
 
 The fecond Point is 01 . 
 
 02. 
 
 The third Point is 00. 
 
 18. 
 
 The fourth Point is 01 . 
 
 10. 
 
 Co 
 
 $5 
 
 1 
 
 l 
 
 5 *- 
 
 Which by Reduction makes 4 Rules 
 and four Inches ; that is, three Yards 
 wanting 8 Inches, and fo much your 
 Shaft hades *, therefore if you firft mea- 
 fure out fo much upon your Cord, and 
 hold one End at the fame Place on the 
 Stows , and give him the other End to go 
 forwards with ; then the Side of the Dial 
 lying {freight with the String, and the 
 Needle Handing upon 52, bid him make 
 a Mark there •, and fo you have taken all 
 the 4 Points together, and found the 
 , Mark above Ground, which he made at 
 the Shaft-foot : Then go to the Mark he 
 made, and looking in your Note, what 
 your nextLength is (which is 22 Rules and 
 8 Inches) meafuring out fo much upon 
 your Cord ; let him go forwards with one 
 End, and caufe fome one to hold the o- 
 ther End in the Mark he laft made j then 
 
 look 
 
( 297 ) 
 
 look in your Note for your Point over- 
 againft that Length* which is 36 ; fo fet- 
 ting the Needle upon $ 6 , let him that has 
 the Plummet-end bring the Cord to the 
 Side of the Dial, you (landing lbme 
 diftance from him that holds the other 
 End in the Mark : Then (the Cord lying 
 exactly even with the Side of the Dial, and 
 the Needle (landing upon 36) bid him 
 make a Mark at the End of the Plummet 
 and fo you have done that Length ; go 
 then to your lad Mark and put one End 
 of your Rule in it, and fet the Needle up- 
 on 52, laying the Edge of the Rule to 
 the Dial, the Length being but 10 Inches 
 make a Mark there ; then look in your 
 Note for your next Lengths which is 24 
 Rules and 14 Inches which meafure out, 
 and let him go on with the String, cau- 
 fing the other End to be held in the Lift 
 Mark ; and fetting the Needle upon 36, 
 the Point over-againft that Length, bid 
 him wave the Cord up and down till in 
 lies exa&ly flreight with the Side of the 
 Dial } then bid him make a Mark ; fo 
 you have done that Length. Laflly, be- 
 caufe the other two Lengtjhs are both to 
 be taken upon one Point, and there be- 
 ing no other by-point betwixt them, there- 
 fore you may add the Lengths together 
 (and take them at once) whicli is 1 Rule 
 and 8 Inches, the Needle (landing upon 
 
( 2?8 ) 
 
 51 ; the End hereof is the Place above 
 Ground directly over the Mark you made 
 at the Turn-foot. 
 
 Now, to know whether you have dial- 
 led thisexa£Hy or no (without going over 
 it again) firft add all your fqnare Lengths 
 
 together : 
 
 as for Example. 
 
 
 Ru. 
 
 Inch . 
 
 
 00. 
 
 22. 
 
 
 01. 
 
 02. 
 
 
 00. 
 
 rt. 
 
 
 01. 
 
 10. 
 
 ' 
 
 00. 
 
 10. 
 
 
 00. 
 
 08. 
 
 
 01. 
 
 00. 
 
 Sum is 
 
 5 - 
 
 22. 
 
 Which converted into Feet makes 1 1 
 Foot 10 Inches • and fo much your Shaft 
 and Turn hades and declines from the 
 Place you firft begun to plum at the Stows: 
 Then add up the Lengths you took Rake- 
 ways, which was only 22. Ru . 08. Inch . 
 
 and 24, 14* 
 
 46. 22. 
 
 Which by Reduction is 93 Foot and 10 
 Inches, or 31 Yards and 10 Inches: fo 
 taking your rule and meafuring out the 
 a ' — " 46 Rules 
 
( 299 ) 
 
 46 Rules and 22 Inches •, give him the 
 Plummet-end to go Rake-ways, caufmg 
 fome one to hold the other End at the 
 Place on the Stows where. you firft began 
 to plum ; then go you to the Middle of 
 the String, and fetting the Needle upon 
 36, bid him wave it up and down, till you 
 fee the String lie exactly ft reight with the 
 Side of the Dial , then bid him make a 
 Mark at the End : go to this Mark, and 
 meafure out your fquare Length, which 
 in all was 5 Rules and 22 Inches *, give 
 him the End, holding the other End in 
 the Mark, fet the Needle upon 52, bid 
 him wave the firing up and down, till it 
 lie parallel with the Box : Then bid him 
 make a Mark. And if this Mark hit 
 the Mark you made when you dialled it 
 before, you have done the Work exact- 
 ly, or elfe you have committed fome Er- 
 ror. 
 
 Note^ This Rule always holds true, 
 when you take fquare Lengths, and your 
 Lengths forward, Rake- ways, or any 
 ways, by one point : As here you took 
 by the Point 36. 
 
 * 
 
 Hew 
 
( ) 
 
 How to plum Shafts and Hams that hade , 
 and beat into the End . 
 
 F lrft, let down your Cord as far as you 
 can, holding it at the moft conveni- 
 ent Place on the Stows , where it will go 
 down deepeft ; and where the end touches 
 below bid him make a Mark : Then ap- 
 ply your Dial to the fide of the Cord, 
 (whilft it hangs there) and take that 
 Point you judge to be the neareft crofting 
 the Rake for your fquare Point, which 
 here you may fuppofe to be 48 s fet the 
 Point down, pull up the String and mea- 
 fure it, which fuppofe here to be 26 Rules 
 and 8 Inches ; fet them down : Then go 
 down to the Mark he made, put one end 
 of the Rule therein, laying the other crofs 
 into the Shaft, apply the Dial , to the 
 edge of the Rule, the Needle Handing up- 
 on 48, let down the Cord, (which by rea- 
 l'on that the Shaft beats much one way, the 
 Plummet will fall upon the End) and 
 where it touches the end bid him make a 
 Mark, obferving what Inches of the Rule 
 you hold the String at \ which fuppofe 
 here to be 1 8 *, fet them down, and the 
 Point 48 alfo •, then go down to the Mark 
 he made at the end of the Shaft, and put- 
 ting one end of your Rule or String (whe- 
 ther you find more convenient) in that 
 
 Mark, 
 
( 3 01 ) 
 
 Mark, lay out the other end towards the 
 other end of the Shaft, and take the neareft 
 fquarePoint you can to 48 •, which herefup- 
 pofe to be 32 ; make a Mark at the end of 
 the String, in the other end of the Shaft, if 
 you take it quite through ; but if you take 
 it half way by the Rule, then perhaps the 
 Rule may touch the lying fide, and then 
 you muft make a Mark there, the Nee- 
 dle {landing upon 3a, and fet down the 
 length taken upon that Point ; and fo 
 afterwards take a crofs length from that 
 Mark upon your fquare 48 ; but if you 
 take it quite through the Shaft, to give 
 more Liberty to plum deeper the next 
 time*, then meafuring it, let down the 
 Length, and the point 32 over-againll it, 
 which here you may fuppofe to be 2 Rules 
 and 8 Inches * which done, hold one end 
 of the String in that Mark you made in 
 the end of the Shaft, and let down the 
 Cord as far as you can, till it either touch 
 the fide or the end of the Shaft ; which 
 here you may fuppofe to touch both end 
 and fide in the corner of the Shaft : bid 
 him make a Mark there : Then pull up 
 the Cord, and meafuring it, fet it down 
 under Depth , which you may fuppofe to 
 be 8 Rules and 10 Inches: And here 
 you are to take no Point, this being only 
 a Plum : Then go down to the Mark, and 
 put one end of the Rule therein, and lay 
 
( 3°2 ) 
 
 the other againft the TVough , lengthways 
 of the Shaft, and apply the Dial to the 
 fide of the Rule, the Needle handing up- 
 on 51, make a Mark at the end of your 
 Rule, or where you fee moft convenient *, 
 fo counting the Inches fet them down at 
 the Point 32, which here fuppofe to be 
 23 Inches : Bat if it chance, when your 
 Rule lies to the Wough , you cannot take 
 the Point 32 exadly •, In fuch cafe, .put 
 the end of the Rule 3 or 4 Inches, more 
 or lefs as you fee convenient, towards the 
 hanging fide, but be fure it be level with 
 the fame Mark, and then fet down fo ma- 
 ny Inches for a length as you judge it to 
 be, and over-againft the fquare Point 48 : 
 Or if it happen that the JVough flies back, 
 fo that the Rule needs not touch it, keep 
 the Rule and Dial together, the Needle 
 handing upon 32, fet down that length 
 you think moft convenient to take, and 
 then fall to plumming again : And if your 
 Plummet falls upon the end of the Shaft, 
 or upon both ends and ftde as before, yet 
 take your length upon the Point 32, by 
 help of either of thole ways you laft took 
 it *, that is to fay, by Ihifting your Rule 
 or String fomething nearer the hanging 
 fide, taking care to fet down thofe Inches 
 you fo allow againft your fquare Point: 
 But if it falls upon the fide, and the Shaft 
 hath left off under-beating, and goes 
 
 ftreight, 
 
( 3°3 ) 
 
 ftreight, only then lay your Rule crofs in- 
 to the Shaft, and take your length upon 
 the fquare Point 48, till you have finifhed 
 plumming the Shaft : So by obferving 
 thefeDiredtions well you may exactlyPlum 
 and meafure to an Inch, any Shafts, 
 Turns, Lobs or Sumps, that either hade 
 or hade and underbeat. 
 
 The Table of the foregoing Operation . 
 
 Depth . Point . Length . 
 
 Ru. 
 
 Inch. 
 
 
 Ru. 
 
 Inch. 
 
 2 6 
 
 08 
 
 48 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 48 
 
 00 
 
 1 8 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 3 1 
 
 02 
 
 08 
 
 08 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 3 Z 
 
 00 
 
 23 
 
 Sum 4 6 Ru. 28 Inch. 
 
 Which converted into Feet makes 94 
 Foot and 4 Inches * for you muft obferve, 
 that the 28 Inches, is equal to 1 Rule and 
 4 Inches, or 2 Foot 4 Inches : So if you 
 divide 94 Foot and 4 Inches by 6, the 
 Number of Feet in a Fathom, you will 
 find the Shaft to be 15 Fathoms, 4 Foot 
 and 4 Inches deep : Now if you would 
 know how much the Shaft hades and un- 
 der-beats, and would find the Place a- 
 
 bove- 
 
( 3^4 ) 
 
 bove-ground where you made the Mark 
 laft below •, Firft, add the Lengths toge- 
 ther you took upon your fquare Point 48 *, 
 which here was only 18 Inches : Then 
 putting one end of the Rule to that Place 
 of the Stows where you firft began to plum, 
 lay the Dial to the Side of the Rule, the 
 Needle handing upon 48, make a Mark 
 there : Then add together the Lengths 
 you took upon the Point 32, which makes 
 3 Rules and 7 Inches ; meafure out fo 
 much, holding one End in the laft Mark, 
 let him go forwards with the other, fet 
 the Needle upon 32, the String lying 
 ftreight with the Side of the Dial , bid 
 him make a Mark there, and this is the 
 exa<ft Place above-ground right over that 
 where you made the Mark laft below. 
 
 How to 'plum and dial in any open Rake , 
 where there is many crofs Drifts and 
 'Turnings , und afterwards to fquare the 
 fame above Ground. 
 
 F IRST plum the Shaft, Turn, Lob and 
 Sumps if there be any, by the Direc- 
 tions afore-delivered, chufing that Point 
 for your Square which you judge goes near- 
 eft crofs to Rake or Pipe *, which luppofe 
 here to be 28 *, and take all your crofs 
 Lengths upon that Point, till fuch Time 
 as you have done plumming, unlefs h - 
 
 pen 
 
 x 
 
( 3°5 ) 
 
 pen that your Plummet falls upon the End 
 of the Shaft, or Turn, as you plum ; If 
 fo, then take a new Square to this Square 
 of 28, as you did in the laid Example be- 
 fore, or the neared: it you can letting 
 dowm the Length and Points in order : 
 Now fuppofe you come to take a Length 
 forwards into the Drift at the Shaft foot, 
 having firft made a Mark there where the 
 Plum fell, let a Boy hold one End of the 
 String therein, and bid another Man take 
 the Plummet, and go as far back into the 
 Drift as he can, till the Plum he hath in 
 his Hands touches the Side ; and ftretch- 
 ing the String ftreight, obferve that it 
 touches nowhere betwixt that End he holds 
 in the Mark, and the Plummet the other 
 Man hath in his Hand, (if it touches the 
 Side bid him come nearer) then apply the 
 Dial to the Side of the String, and when 
 the String and Dial lie exa&ly ftraight to- 
 gether, take the Point the Needle Hands 
 on, which fuppofe here to be 44 : Set 
 down the Point, bid him make a Mark 
 at the Plummet: Then pull back the 
 String and meafure it ; which fuppofe here 
 to be 12 Rules and 14 Inches : Then go 
 to the Mark he made, hold one End of 
 the String in it, bid him go back into the 
 Drift with the Plummet as far as he can, 
 till the middle of the String begins to 
 touch the Side ; then ftretching the String 
 
 ftreight. 
 
( 3°6 ) 
 
 ftreight, obftrve that it touches no where 
 betwixt them that hold it, ' apply the Dial 
 to the Side of it, and take the Point the 
 Needle ftands on, which here fuppofe to 
 be 50 •, fet it down, bidding him make 
 a Mark at the Plummet ; pull back the 
 String and meafure it, which fuppofe 
 here to be § Rules and 6 Inches ; which 
 fet down over-againft the Point: Then 
 go to the lad Mark he made, hold one 
 End of the String therein, bid the other 
 go back with the Plum as far as he can, 
 ftretching the String ftraight, obferve that 
 it touches no where on the Side betwixt 
 them that hold it ; apply the Side of your 
 Dial parallel to the String, and take the 
 Point the Needle ftands on, which fuppofe 
 here to be 48 j fet it down, bid him make 
 a Mark at the End ; pull back the String 
 and meafure it, which fuppofe here to be 
 14 Rules and 8 Inches ; then go to that 
 Mark, and laying the String out as before 
 directed, take the Point there, which fup- 
 pofe to be 52 ; fet it down, and making 
 a Mark at the End, let this be the Fore- 
 field of your Work : Pull back the String 
 and meafure it, which fuppofe to be 16 
 Rules and 10 Inches : Then go up to the 
 Day, and having gone over the Lengths 
 and Points .you took in plumming the 
 Shaft, and found the Mark above Ground 
 you made at the Shaft-foot, (which you 
 
 may 
 
( 3°7 ) 
 
 may do by the Rules and Directions alrea- 
 dy delivered,) meafure out your firft 
 Length, Rules and 14 Inches, hold 
 one End of the String in the Mark, bid 
 the other Man go forwards with the Plum- 
 met, then do you fet the Needle upon 44, 
 (and bid him wave the String to and fro, 
 till it lies exactly {freight with the Side of 
 the Dial,) the Needle (landing upon that 
 Point, bid him make a Mark there ; and 
 fo you have done the firft Point \ and in 
 like Manner you muft do all the reft fol- 
 lowing, till you find the Place above 
 Ground right over the Mark you made at 
 the Fore-field below *, which done, make 
 a Mark, and drive down a Stake . Now 
 if you would know how far you are dri- 
 ven in your Meer, you muft fquare the 
 Ground above ; therefore tie one End of 
 your Cord to this Stake , and bid him go 
 crofs with the other End, 10, ao, or 30 
 Yards, more or lefs, as you think good ; 
 fet the Needle upon 28, which was the 
 Square you took when you firft began to 
 plum the Shaft, and do you ftand in the 
 Middle(betwixthim that holds the String, 
 and the Stake) with the Dial, bid him 
 move the String to and fro, or do you 
 fhift, if you fee Caufe, 5 iill the String 
 lies exacftly ftreight, and equally even 
 with the Side of the Dial, the Needle be- 
 ing precifely upon 28, bid him make a 
 
 Mark 
 
( 3°8 ) 
 
 Mark at the End, drive down a Stake 
 there, and pulling the String ftreight, 
 fallen it to the Stake and leave it : Then 
 come back to the Shaft, having another 
 String ready, put one End to that Place 
 of the Stows from which you firft began to 
 plum, fet your Needle upon that Point, 
 which is exadtly fquare to that Square you 
 took when you firft began to plum the 
 Shaft, which was a8 ; therefore the Point 
 that fquares it is 44: Then let him go 
 forwards with the String upon that Point, 
 ’till the String he hath in his Hand crofs 
 the String you faftned betwixt the Stakes , 
 go you into the Middle, and apply the 
 Dial to the Side of the String, bid him 
 move it up and and down ’till the Needle 
 ftands exadlly upon 44; then bid him 
 make a Mark where the Strings crofs one 
 another and drive down a Stake there ; fo 
 the Diftance meafured from this Stake to 
 the Stows is the true Length of your 
 Ground driven. 
 
 How 
 
 1 
 
1 309 ) 
 
 How to Plum and Dial , and bring up Soughs , 
 Drifts , or Addits , to hit any Place or 
 Depth defined *, and to know whether a 
 Sough begun , will lay a Mine dry or not . 
 
 H AVING firft plumb’d your 
 Shaft, Turn, Lobs and Sumps by 
 the Rules afore-delivered, and knowing 
 the Depth thereof: Becaufe few or any 
 Miners underftand a Quadrant , the Initru- 
 mentfor this Purpofe may be like the fol- 
 lowing, viz. A Water Stand, with one 
 or more Channels ; which the Miner may 
 make himfelf, upon an old feafoned Joyce, 
 cutting 3 a Mortefs therein a Yard long, or 
 more, as his own Difcretion diredts, plain- 
 ing the fame very well and even. 
 
 Having 
 
Having the Inftrument ready, and a 
 Staff or Pole of 5 or 6 Yards long, which 
 you may call the Perpendicular-pole ; as 
 A B reprefenteth : D the Mark levelled 
 
 at 
 
( 3 1 1 ) 
 
 at : m the Leveller looking over the Chan* 
 nel : a the Hole above the Channel of 
 Water, through which the Leveller looks : 
 e the Channel full of Water : o the Pin at 
 the End of the Channel : n a Piece of 
 Wood with three Iron- forks at the End, 
 to flick in the Ground : L a Board fet up 
 crofs over the Channel, having a little flit 
 under it, as at a : E F the Levelling- 
 Line. 
 
 Suppofe you be called to Level a Piece of 
 Ground , to know whether it will lay dry a 
 Mine ( by a Sough) that is to be began in 
 any Place appointed . 
 
 Firfl, view over the Ground, then eredt 
 your Inftrument at the Mine, and caufe 
 fome one to take the Pole, and to go as 
 far towards the Place where you intend to 
 begin your Sough, as the Length of your 
 Pole will admit * then fee that the Wa- 
 ter Hands even in the Channel : Look 
 through the Slit at#, and bid him fhift 
 the Pole to and fro, ’till you fee the Pin 
 at o , interpofe your Eye and the Mark you 
 level at, as D : which done, bid him 
 make a Mark at the Foot of the Pole ; and 
 fhift your Inftrument thither, and ere<ft it 
 there, fetting down the Length of your 
 Pole in Yards and Inches : Then do as 
 you did before, ’till you have finifhed the 
 
 Whole, 
 
( 312 ) 
 
 Whole, and come to the Place where you 
 intend to begin your Sough : Then redu- 
 cing your Poles into Fathoms, compare 
 them with the Depth of your Mine, and 
 thus you may know whether it will lay it 
 dry or no. 
 
 Naturam ubiq •, compendium amare . 
 
 Senjibus h<ec imis {res non eft parva) repone . 
 
 Ingraft thefe Precepts deep within your 
 Senfes, 
 
 The Matter’s good, and got by fmall Ex- 
 pences. 
 
 The laft Operation in Dialling. 
 
 Depth . Points . Length . 
 
 Ru 
 oo- 
 00 - 
 oo- 
 oo- 
 00 - 
 
 Inch . Ru Inch . 
 
 oo 50 o 8 06 
 
 A N 
 
( 3i3 ) 
 
 
 A N 
 
 explanation 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MINE R S 
 
 Terms of ART 
 
 Ufed in this 
 
 BOOK. 
 
 B A R-Mafter , is he which keepeth the 
 Gage or Difh to meafure all Miners 
 Oar, he or his Servant being prefent when 
 meafu red. 
 
 Brazen Difh , is the Standard by which 
 the other Difhes are gaged, and is kept in 
 the King’s Hall. 
 
 Cavers , are any poor People that go a- 
 bout the Mines to beg or fteal Oar from 
 the Miners. 
 
 Goes , 
 
 P 
 
( 3*4 ) 
 
 Coes , are little Houfes which the Mi- 
 ners make over their Mines to lay the Oar 
 in. 
 
 Cope , is 6 d. for every Load of Oar, 
 nine Difhes making one Load. 
 
 Crofts, are two Nicks cut upon the Su- 
 perficies of the Earth, thus + which the 
 .Miners make when they take the Ground 
 to dig for Oar * this Crofs gives the Mi- 
 ners three Days Liberty to make and fet 
 on Stows : As many of thefe Croffes as the 
 Miner makes, fo many Meers of Ground 
 . he may have in that Vein, if he fets on 
 Stows within three Days after his making 
 his Crofs or Croffes *, but if he make but 
 one Crofs, and a,Stander-by makes the 
 Second, and a Stranger makes the third, 
 every one is ferved with the next Meer ac- 
 cording as they have firft or laft, fooner or 
 later made their Crofs or Croffes upon the 
 Ground. 
 
 Dijb , is a Trough made of Wood, a- 
 bout a8 Inches long, 4 Inches deep and 
 6 Inches wide ; by which all Miners mea- 
 fure their Oar : If any be taken felling 
 their Oar, not firft meafuring it by the 
 Bar-mafter's Difh, and paying the King's 
 Duties, the Miners incur that forfeiture 
 which the 17th Article has impofed upon 
 them. , 
 
 Drift , is a Paffige thus cut 
 
 out under the Earth betwixt Shaft and 
 
 Shafts 
 
( 3*5 ) 
 
 Shaft, or Turn and Turn, oraPaffigeor 
 Way wrought under the Earth ta the End 
 of aMeer of Ground or Part of a Meer. 
 
 Farmer , is the Lord of the Field •, or 
 one that farms the Lot and Cope of the 
 King. \ « 
 
 Fodder of Lead, at the Mines contains 
 Twenty- two hundred and a half weight, 
 though in London but Twenty hundred 
 Weight. 
 
 Foreftid Oar , is Oar that is gotten out of 
 Earth and Dirt that have been wafhed and 
 Oar taken from it before. 
 
 Forejield is the furtheft Place that a Man 
 has wrought in his Ground v or the End of 
 a Meer above Ground. 
 
 Groove, is the Shaft or Pit funk into the 
 Earth ; they are fometimes funk in the 
 Vein and fometimes out. 
 
 Hack, is a Tool that Miners ufe like a 
 Mattock. 
 
 Hade , is where any Shaft or Turn goes 
 defeending like the Side of an Houfe, or 
 like theDefcent of a deep Hill, then it is 
 faid to hade. 
 
 Load, is nine Difhes of Oar, each Difh 
 being about half a hundred Weight. 
 
 Lobs, are fteps that afeend and defeend 
 within the Mines, as Stairs up to and 
 down from a Chamber. 
 
 Lot , is the 1 3th Dilh, Meafure or Part 
 P 2 
 
( 3*<S ) 
 
 of the Miners Oar, which the Bar-mafter 
 takes up for the King or Farmer. 
 
 Meer , contains Twenty-nine Yards 
 in length in any Vein. 
 
 Meer-Jlake is a Pin of Wood drove into 
 the Superficies of the Earth, to fhew the 
 Extent or End of a Meer of Ground. 
 
 Old Works , are fuch that are either fal- 
 len in or (land unwrought. 
 
 Pipe, is where the Oar runs forwards 
 endways in a Hole, and doth not fink 
 downwards or in a Vein. 
 
 Pee , is where two Veins meet and crofs 
 one another thus + the Place where they 
 meet is called the Pee. 
 
 Pojjeffton , is the right to - a Meer of 
 Ground, which Miners enjoy, by having 
 Slows upon that Ground *, and it is taken 
 generally for the Slows that give Pcifieffi- 
 on. 
 
 Pawn , is a Pledge of Money put into 
 the Bar-mafber 5 s Hand at the Time when 
 the Plaintiff caufes the Bar- mailer to arreil 
 the Mine. 
 
 Pick , is a Tool the Miners ufe to cut 
 down the Cliffs and Rocks of Stone to 
 make Paifages in the Earth. 
 
 Rither , is a Stone or thin Cliff that lies 
 in the Vein ; the Oar fometimes runs on 
 both Sides it \ fometimes this Rither is 
 
 fo 
 
( 3*7 ) 
 
 fo thick, it parts the Vein, and makes 
 one Vein two. 
 
 Quart er-Cord y is feven Yards and a 
 Quarter, which the Miner hath crofs ways 
 of his Vein on either Side ; for Liberty to 
 lay his Earth, Stone, andRubbifh on, and 
 to walh and drefs up his Oar. 
 
 Rakey is the fame with a Vein. 
 
 Shaft, is the fame with a Groove or 
 Pit *, they are funkfome ten, fome twenty 
 Fathoms deep into the Earth, more or 
 lels. 
 
 StowSy are feven Pieces of Wood (fet 
 upon the Superficies of the Earth) faftened 
 with Pins of Wood together *, two are 
 called Soul-trees ; two S tow-blades y two 
 Hang-Benches and a Spindle : Thefe Stows 
 give a Miner , or any Perfon that owns 
 them, as good Right to a Meer or Meers 
 of Ground, (fo that every Meer have a 
 Pair of Stows fet on them) as a Deed of 
 Conveyance doth to any Purchafer. 
 
 Stcoly is where the Miners leave digging 
 deeper, and work in the Ends forwards \ 
 the End before you is called the Stool. 
 
 Spindle , is a Piece of Wood faftened in- 
 to either Stow- blade, 
 
 Smyth am y is Lead Oar ftamp’d and 
 pounded down, like Powder or Sand, to 
 cleanfe the Stones and Earth from the 
 Oar. 
 
 Sough y is alfo called an Addit *, it is a 
 
 Paffagg 
 
( 3 l8 ) 
 
 Paffage like a Vault cut out under the 
 Earth, to drain the Water from the 
 Mine. 
 
 Smelting houfe , is a Houfe where they 
 run and melt the Oar into Lead ; one of 
 thefe will run a Ton in ten or twelve 
 Hours : A Fodder is their ufual Day r s 
 Work *, that is, Twenty-two hundred and 
 an half weight. 
 
 Sumps , are Holes funk in Drifts to the 
 Depth of two or three Yards, more or 
 lefs. 
 
 Twenty- four Men , they are Twenty- 
 four Men chofen every half Year to re- 
 drefs the Grievances of the Mines and Mi- 
 ners ; but every Man generally ferves his 
 Year when chofen. 
 
 Next Taker , is he that makes the next 
 Crofs, or he that hath the next Meer in 
 PoflefFion . 
 
 T urn , is a Pit funk in fome Part of a 
 Drift ; if the Mine be deep, there is ma- 
 ny of thefe Turns one below another. 
 
 Vein , is that which is bounded with 
 Woughs , and contains Oar, Spar , Cauck , 
 Clay, Chirt , Croil, Brown-hen , Pitcher - 
 chirt , Gur , which the Philofophers call, 
 the Mother of Metals, and Soil of all Co- 
 lours fometimes. When it bears Oar it is 
 called a quick Vein , when no Oar a dead 
 Vein. 
 
 IVoughs , are the Walls or Sides fome- 
 times 
 
( 3^9 ) 
 
 times of hard Stone, and fometimes foft ; 
 when foft, then the Miners fay they are 
 rotten : Thefe are the Bounds of an 
 Entry. Betwixt them all Sorts of Earth, 
 Stones and Oar lieth, or, as Philofophers 
 fay, groweth. 
 
Books printed for James Hodges, at the 
 Looking-Glafs, on London Bridge. 
 
 N ATURE Delineated : Being Philofophical Conver- 
 sions, wherein the wonderful Works of Provi- 
 dence, in the Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Cre- 
 ation are laid open ; the Soar and Planetary Syftem, and 
 whatever is curious in the Mathemat'cks explained. The 
 Whole being a Compleat Courfe of Natural and Experi- 
 mental Fhi olophy, ca'culated for the Inftru£tion of Youth, 
 in order to prepare them for an early Knowledge of Natu- 
 ral ITftory, and create in their Minds an exalted Idea of 
 the Wifdom of the Great Creator. Written byWay of 
 Dialogue to render the Conception more familiar and eafy. 
 Nature is nothing but the Art of God; a bright Difplay 
 of that Wifdom which demands an eternalTribute of 
 Wonder and Worfhip. J. WATTS. 
 
 The Second Edition, carefully reviled and corrected with 
 large Additions, embefifhed with great Variety of Cop- 
 per Plates, curioufly engraved, reprelenting the Principal 
 Subjects treated of. Tranflatea from the French by John 
 Kelly, Efq; of the Inner Temple ; D. Bellamy of St. John’s 
 College, Oxford; and J. Sparrow, Surgeon and Mathema- 
 tician. In Four neat Pocket Volumes, urao. With a 
 Table of Contents and a Compleat and Copious Index to 
 each Volume. Price bound in Calf iis. N.B. To oblige 
 thole Perfons who favour’d us with the Purchale of the 
 former Edition, the Additions are printed feparate, and de- 
 livered gratis. 
 
 II. A Second Volume of, Farriery improved; Or, A 
 Compleat Treatife upon the Art of Farriery : Wherein is 
 fully explained the Nature, Stru&ure, and Mcchanifm of 
 that noble Creature a Horfe, the Difeales and Accidents to 
 which he is incident, with the Method of Cure ; delivered 
 in as clear and -intelligib e a Manner as the Subjeft will ad- 
 mir ; together with many neceffary and ufeful Obfervations 
 and K emarks- concerning the Choice and Management of 
 HorEs. Likewife, an Account of the Prices of Drugs, &c. 
 uEd in Farriery. By Henry Bracken, M. D. Author of 
 the Notes on Burdon, &c. 
 
 III. A newTreatife of Husbandry, Gardening, and other 
 curious Matters relating to Country Affairs : Being a plain 
 and praftical Method of improving all l orts of Meadow, 
 Paflure, and Arable I and ; and or making them produce 
 greater Crops of all K.nds at much lefs than the prelent 
 Expence ; with many nw,_ ufefu , and curious Improve- 
 ments, never before pub: fh’d . the Whole founded on ma- 
 ny Years Experience, by SamuT Trowel, Gent. To which 
 are added, Several Letters to Mr. Thomas Livting, with 
 fame practical Obfervations on his Compound Manure for 
 Land. Price bound z $, 6 d, 
 
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 GETTY CENTER LIBRARY