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Alessandro Del Sole

Visual Studio Code Distilled

Evolved Code Editing for Windows, macOS, and
Linux
2nd ed.
Alessandro Del Sole
Cremona, Italy

Any source code or other supplementary material referenced by the

author in this book is available to readers on GitHub via the book’s
product page, located at www.apress.com/9781484269008. For more
detailed information, please visit https://www.apress.com/source-
code.

ISBN 978-1-4842-6900-8 e-ISBN 978-1-4842-6901-5

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-6901-5

© Alessandro Del Sole 2021

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively
licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is
concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of
illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in
any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and
retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or
dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks,

service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the
absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the
relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general
use.

The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the
advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate
at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the
editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the
material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have
been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional
claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This Apress imprint is published by the registered company APress

Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.
The registered company address is: 1 New York Plaza, New York, NY
10004, U.S.A.
To my wife Angelica, you mean everything to me.
Introduction
One of the most common requirements in software development today
is building applications and services that run on multiple systems and
devices, especially with the continued expansion of cloud and artificial
intelligence services.
Developers have many options to build cross-platform and cross-
device software, from languages to development platforms and tools.
However, in most cases such tools rely on proprietary systems,
therefore creating strong dependencies. Moreover, most development
tools target specific platforms and development scenarios. Microsoft
Visual Studio Code makes a step forward, by providing a fully featured
development environment for Windows, macOS, and Linux that not
only offers advanced coding features but also integrated tools that span
across the entire application life cycle from coding to debugging to
team collaboration.
With .NET 5 recently released and with .NET MAUI coming shortly,
Visual Studio Code becomes even more important to support cross-
platform development on multiple operating systems. In this book,
developers with any skill will learn how to leverage Visual Studio Code
to target scenarios such as web, cloud, and mobile development with
the programming language of their choice, providing guidance to build
apps for any system and any device.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Joan Murray, Jill Balzano, Laura Berendson, and everyone
else at Apress for the opportunity and the great teamwork on this book.
Special thanks to the technical editor, Damien Foggon, who
contributed to the quality and accuracy of the contents.
Special thanks to my wife Angelica, who understands and never
complains about the time I spend on writing books.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1:​Introducing Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code, a Cross-platform Development Tool
When and Why Visual Studio Code
Installing and Configuring Visual Studio Code
Installing Visual Studio Code on Windows
Installing Visual Studio Code on macOS
Installing Visual Studio Code on Linux
Localization Support
Updating Visual Studio Code
Previewing Features with Insiders Builds
Summary
Chapter 2:​Getting to Know the Environment
The Welcome Page
The Code Editor
Reordering, Resizing, and Zooming Editor Windows
The Status Bar
The Activity Bar
The Side Bar
The Explorer Bar
The Search Tool
The Git Bar
The Run and Debug Bar
The Extensions Bar
The Accounts Button
The Settings Button
 Navigating Between Files
The Command Palette
The Panels Area
The Problems Panel
The Output Panel
The Debug Console Panel
Working with the Terminal
Summary
Chapter 3:​Language Support and Code Editing Features
Language Support
Working with C# and C++
Basic Code Editing Features
Working with Text
Syntax Colorization
Delimiter Matching and Text Selection
Code Block Folding
Multicursors
Reusable Code Snippets
Word Completion
Minimap Mode
Whitespace Rendering and Breadcrumbs
Markdown Preview
Evolved Code Editing
Working with IntelliSense
Parameter Hints
Inline Documentation with Tooltips
 Go to Definition and Peek Definition
Go to Implementation and Peek Implementations
Finding References
Renaming Symbols and Identifiers
Live Code Analysis
Summary
Chapter 4:​Working with Files and Folders
Visual Studio Code and Project Systems
Working with Individual Files
Creating Files
File Encoding, Line Terminators, and Line Browsing
Working with Folders and Projects
Opening a Folder
Opening .​NET Solutions
Opening JavaScript and TypeScript Projects
Opening Loose Folders
Working with Workspaces
Creating Workspaces
Opening Existing Workspaces
Workspace Structure
Summary
Chapter 5:​Customizing Visual Studio Code
Customizations and Extensions Explained
Customizing Visual Studio Code
Theme Selection
Customizing the Environment
 Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts
Summary
Chapter 6:​Installing and Managing Extensions
Installing Extensions
Extension Recommendations
Useful Extensions
Managing Extensions
Configuring Extensions
Hints About Extension Authoring
Summary
Chapter 7:​Source Control with Git
Source Control in Visual Studio Code
Downloading Other Source Control Providers
Managing Repositories
Initializing a Local Git Repository
Creating a Remote Repository
Handling File Changes
Staging Changes
Managing Commits
Working with the Git Command-Line Interface
Creating and Managing Branches
Switching to a Different Branch
Merging from a Branch
Hints About Rebasing Branches
Deleting Branches
Adding Power to the Git Tooling with Extensions
 Git History
GitLens
GitHub Pull Requests and Issues
Working with Azure DevOps and Team Foundation Server
Creating a Team Project
Connecting Visual Studio Code to a Remote Repository
Summary
Chapter 8:​Automating Tasks
Understanding Tasks
Tasks Types
Running and Managing Tasks
The Default Build Task
Auto-Detected Tasks
Configuring Tasks
Running Files with a Default Program
Summary
Chapter 9:​Building and Debugging Applications:​.​NET 5 and Other
Platforms
Creating Applications
Introducing .​NET 5
Creating .​NET 5 Projects
Creating Projects on Other Platforms
Debugging Your Code
Configuring the Debugger
Managing Breakpoints
Debugging an Application
 Summary
Chapter 10:​Building Applications with Python
Chapter Prerequisites
Creating Python Applications
Running Python Code
Code Editing Features for Python
Enhanced Word Completion with IntelliSense
Understanding Function Parameters With Parameter Hints
Quickly Retrieving Type Definitions
Finding References
Renaming Symbols
Finding Code Issues with Linters
Advanced Code Editing with Pylance
Managing Pylance Settings
Running Python Scripts
Summary
Chapter 11:​Deploying Applications to Azure
Introducing Azure Extensions
Deploying Web Applications
Installing Extensions
Signing into Azure Subscriptions
Publishing Web Applications
Creating and Deploying Azure Functions
Configuring Visual Studio Code
Creating Azure Functions
Deploying Azure Functions
 Summary
Index
About the Author
Alessandro Del Sole
is Senior Software Engineer for a healthcare company, building mobile
apps for doctors and dialysis patients. He has been in the software
industry for almost 20 years, focusing on Microsoft technologies such
as .NET, C#, Visual Studio, and Xamarin. He has been a trainer,
consultant, and a Microsoft MVP since 2008 and is the author of many
technical books. He is a Xamarin Certified Mobile Developer, Microsoft
Certified Professional, and a Microsoft Programming Specialist in C#.
 Another Random Document on
Scribd Without Any Related Topics
 ANNOTATIONS
UPON THE

CONTINUATION
OF

Miraculum Mundi.
Explaining and Defending the SECRETS
therein contained;
As also the True Aurum Potabile therein
mentioned.

I
t is truly said, that He who builds an House by the Highway
exposeth his Building to the judgments of all sorts of men, and
to their censure especially who have not skill enough in
Architecture, to erect a Country Cottage. The same is wont to
happen to those who write concerning things not common or
unknown. For you shall presently hear People saying, Who knows
whether this be true or not? thereby signifying that they cannot
perceive those things which exceed their Capacity; but nevertheless
they will not altogether reject them, because they are yet in doubt
concerning the truth of them. This their doubting is not to be taken
ill, because it proceedeth from ignorance, but not from envy. On the
contrary, there is another sort of perverse men, who being puffed up
with their own putatitious knowledge, despise unknown things, not
out of simplicity or ignorance, but out of a meer diabolical envy to
those who have a greater knowledge and experience of things than
themselves.
This hath also happened, and doth daily happen to me, especially
since the publishing of my Miraculum Mundi, in that I have there
disclosed Secrets of great moment, of which the Vulgar, nor yet the
bubbles of Envy, have plainly no knowledge; and therefore out of
meer Envy, reproach them for Unprofitable and False.
But to stop the mouths of such persons, I intend shortly to build a
spacious and well-furnished Laboratory, and in it to place a good
Laborious Operator, who being occupied therein with continual
Labours, shall shew the Divine Wonders to those who desire to see
the same. Which being done, I shall have no farther need to defend
my Writings against every Calumniator; seeing that I know there will
be those (G O D willing) hereafter, who will defend the truth which
they have seen with their eyes and handled with their hands.
In this Laboratory shall be seen not only those Artificial destilling
Furnaces, and my Press for Wood, with the circulatory Instruments
necessary for the easie making of Salt-Petre; but also those things
shall be shewed, which I have treated of in my Miraculum Mundi,
and its Continuation, yea, and much more than I have there
declared.
Those things also which I have ascribed to my Aurum Potabile
shall be demonstrated to be the very truth, viz. That crude Mercury,
in an hour or two’s time, may be by it converted into pure Gold. Nor
shall this only be proved, but also that after my Aurum Potabile hath
tinged and changed the ☿ into pure and constant Gold, that
nevertheless it hath yet great Virtue, viz. that any Arsenick, whether
white or yellow, being digested in it for some hours, is so changed,
that its poisonous quality passeth into a good Medicine, resisting all
Poison. Nor doth it only become a powerful Medicine against
venomous and incurable diseases, which cannot be eradicated by
purging, bleeding, sweating, and the like Remedies, whilst it
Tinctureth the evil Humours in the Blood and other parts of the
Body, and changeth them into good Humours. But this also being
changed into Medicine, and its Venom converted, sheweth its power
in Metals; if it be cast upon melted Copper, then the Copper poured
out and proved on a Cupel with Saturn, leaveth behind it some good
Silver and Gold. These two proofs are sufficient for the defence of
my Aurum Potabile. But that any one may be yet rendered more
certain, after those two Experiments, viz. the coagulation and
transmutation of Mercury into pure Gold, and the conversion of
poisonous Arsenick into a safe Medicament, he may yet try a third,
and that indeed incredible, with the same Aurum Potabile that hath
been twice used, as before, and this not upon mild or slight Poisons,
but upon the most dangerous and indefensible both to Men, Beasts,
and all living things, to wit, Mercury sublimate, which being digested
for some hours in the said Aurum Potabile, layeth aside all its horrid
and formidable Venom, and passeth into a safe Purging and
Diaphoretick Medicine, and losing its former white Colour and
corrosive Venom, it becomes a sweet red Powder, purging out the
Gout, Pox, Leprosie, and other detestable diseases, and
impregnateth Saturn in some measure with a Golden Tincture. So
also white Arsenick, after digestion, putteth off its white colour,
loseth its corrosive faculty, and is changed into a sweet and yellow
powder.
These Experiments and Proofs ought not to be hidden to the
Studious of good Medicines, but to be made manifest to the
everlasting and immortal testimony of the Truth, against all ignorant
Sophisters whatsoever.
I have, for my defence, the most sharp Sword of Truth, whose
edge, if any desire to feel, let him come forth; the defence of the
Truth will be grateful and easie to me, although the malice of the
whole world should oppose me. I here challenge all those
Calumniators who being moved by a diabolical envy, have
endeavoured to oppose my most true Writings; let them come forth
with their Lyes into the open light, and into the view of the whole
World, and shew any Experiment like to those which I here promise
to shew, that we may see how filthily or basely they will appear, like
the darkness vanishing by the light and splendour of the Sun. If they
cannot, as indeed it is not in their power, (for he that hath any
knowledge of things never contemneth a good one) nor will be
possible for them to do; forasmuch as they know nothing, it is but
reasonable that for the time to come they should restrain their
virulent tongues, and cease to calumniate those things which they
neither know nor understand.
I do not wonder that those Slanderers, attempting the coagulation
of Mercury into Gold, have erred, seeing that it hath sometimes
happened to my self, that I have erred two or three times together,
and could not effect that Transmutation, until the cause thereof was
known to me: For if through too much haste the humidity of the
Aurum Potabile shall exhale or evaporate too fast, the Mercury being
dried up, cannot be sufficiently penetrated, nor throughly tinged.
An errour also may be committed, if the glass containing the
Mercury and the Aurum Potabile grow hot too fast, so that the
Mercury with the Aurum Potabile boil, and leaps, disperseth it self by
too much motion, and exhibiteth it self in form of a powder, when it
ought to remain in the bottom, concreted into a round mass. So will
he also greatly erre, who shall use Mercury that is not pure and
clean, but adulterated, and defiled with many sordes or impurities,
which Impediments deny ingress to the Tincture, and render the trial
uncertain and precarious. Therefore it is necessary that the Mercury
be first well ground with Salt and Vinegar, in a lignum vitæ, or Stone
or Glass Mortar, and by a diligent washing freed from all its
blackness, whereby it more easily admitteth the Tincture. I have
found that Mercury very fit for this Operation, which is sublimed by
the Fulmen of Jove, into which my Aurum Potabile hath a swift
Ingress, and tingeth the whole of it.
Truly it shews the great ignorance and boldness of those
Calumniators, to dare to spread such false clamours and rumours,
saying, That Mercury cannot be indeed tinged into Gold by my
Aurum Potabile, but that the Gold which was before in my Aurum
Potabile applieth it self to the Mercury, and in some sort coagulateth
it, but doth not render it fixt and constant. But this is indeed a very
rude and ignorant Assertion, which every one but meanly versed in
the handling of Gold and Mercury, is able to detect of Folly.
For if common Gold, dissolved in Water, would readily coagulate
Mercury, what should we further seek or desire? But this is greatly
wide of the matter, seeing that in all such Solutions the Gold in
digestion adheres to the injected Mercury by precipitation, and
passeth with it into a white Amalgama, the Mercury constantly
persevering in its pristine Nature, not admitting the least
transmutation into Gold, the which exceedeth not the knowledge
and capacity of Rusticks, but is difficult to be understood by those
putatitious Doctors, who believe such things to exceed all Belief.
It is well known, that the purest Gold hath no more of perfection
than what it needeth for its own defence; that hath not the least
power to amend any other metal, and to render it fixt and constant,
much less that it can coagulate Mercury, (the derider of all
Alchymists and Sophisters) into Gold. Of both is made a white
Amalgama, but not hard yellow Gold constant in the Fire. He that
believeth not me, let him make trial himself, and he shall find it
answerable to my words. Besides, all corporeal Gold refuseth
solution by fixt Nitre, of which my Aurum Potabile is prepared, the
which, if it were yet possible, the Gold would not be hid in it, but the
solution would be yellow, and would colour the skin with a subrubid
or blackish colour, which my Aurum Potabile doth not. Therefore its
tinging Virtue consisteth not in corporeal Gold, but in a golden
Tincture, from the first Ens of Gold, converted into an Astral
Essence, by the benefit of Art. By a like reason the Astrum of Luna
impresseth Mercury with the nature of Silver, the Astrum of Venus
transmuteth it into Copper, the Astrum of Mars converteth the same
into hard Iron, the Astrum of Jupiter of it maketh Tin, and the
Astrum of Saturn investeth it with the nature of Lead. For Mercury is
transmuted into that Metal, whose Astrum it shall receive. So the
Astrum of Mercury changeth all the metals into a running Argent-
vive, although this transmutation brings little or no profit.
Nevertheless, I intend to prepare the Astrums of all the metals, and
thereby to shew the power of Nature and Art to the studious of the
Truth, and so to manifest it to the World. The Astrums of metals
being extracted from their first Ens, they are no longer metals, but
their tinging Anima’s, which at length with Mercury, become
corporeal metals.
This is the true and genuine Foundation, upon which the whole
structure of my Aurum Potabile is built. Therefore, as pure Gold,
cannot render Mercury partaker of its own golden nature; so neither
Silver, nor Copper, nor any other metal, will communicate its nature
to Mercury, but being precipitated, attracteth it to it self, but in no
wise changeth it. Hence the Philosophers say, That the Tinctures of
Metals are not to be sought in the metals themselves, but in their
first Ens. As Basil Valentine;

Quod prima Entia non efficiunt,

Hoc Aurum & Argentum non faciunt.

Which is to be well regarded by him who desires to attain his

wishes.
From all these things it appears, that my Aurum Potabile being
made of the first Ens of Gold, by Art, into an Astral Tincture, ought
to be an excellent Medicine; as also, that it is such, I have largely
demonstrated: For if it were not better than a common Solution of
Gold, it would not change Mercury into true Gold, neither also would
it have the power of transmuting a most potent Poison into an
excellent Medicine. Without doubt, such Medicaments, which by the
help of my Aurum Potabile, from most violent Poisons, are changed
into so salubrious a nature, as Antidotes, do powerfully refill other
Poisons and pertinacious Diseases, and may be used in Physick with
great admiration. What would it profit, if the Body should be purged
by an hundred stools, and at the same time the Disease doth not
consist in the matter of stools, but still keeps its place, and gives no
way, except it be attacked in its own quarters? Neither will it avail
anything to let all the blood out of the body, if the fear of the
Disease be not in the blood. Yea, if it were there fixed, and the
whole mass of blood wholly corrupted, it would be in vain to
undertake to amend the same by bleeding; for all the blood cannot
be drawn out, without peril of Life. And if, for example sake, two or
three pounds of twenty should be left in the body, to be amended by
sanguifying Meats and Drinks, and good Blood to be encreased, yet
the event would not be answerable, because the encreasing blood
would be corrupted by the former. E. g. An Hogshead of sharp
Vinegar, out of which, if you should draw all the Vinegar, leaving only
the fæces or Lees, and should by degrees pour into it noble and
generous Wine, the Wine would be plainly corrupted by those few
fæces. Even so it is with those fixed Diseases, which have taken
such deep root in the humane body, that they cannot be taken away
neither by Purging, Bleeding, nor Sweating, nor by outward
Anointings. Therefore they are to be tinged and amended in those
places, to which they pertinaciously adhere, by the help of Tinctures
or Astral Medicines, as above is done with Mercury, and Mercury
sublimate, that remaining there, they may put on a better nature
and quality, and no farther molest the humane body. And this is the
true and genuine way of Curing radicated and incurable Diseases.
Yet I would not be so understood, as if I condemned all Purgation;
for Purging being used at a due time, brings no small profit. Blood-
letting also being seasonably used, wants not its utility; but being
often abused, is the cause of great mischiefs, and not seldom
hastens on untimely death.
Moreover, the following Experiment, for the trying the Truth of my
Aurum Potabile, is not to be contemned. Rub some Argent-vive upon
a small Silver Plate, and what is superfluous, and doth not adhere,
wipe off with a Linen cloth, after the manner of Goldsmiths, (or
Gilders) who gild with the Amalgama of Gold and Quick-silver: Digest
the Silver Plate in my Aurum Potabile, for half an hour, or an hour,
then take it out, and you shall see with how, fair a Golden Colour it
will be gilt. For in this digestion the Mercury is not so heated, that it
can vanish in smoak, and therefore adhereth to the Silver Plate, and
is tinged by my Aurum Potabile into the best Gold. Now try the same
operation with another Silver Plate, rubbed over with Argent-vive,
and digest it in a solution containing corporeal Gold, to see if that
Plate will be gilt like the other. For the Plate coming out white, you
will see a very great difference.
I could here add more such Experiments, if I thought it needful. If
Goldsmiths (or Gilders) could gild their Silver Vessels, by such a
coction (or digestion) in a solution of corporeal Gold, without doubt
they would soon leave the common way of gilding by the Amalgama
of Mercury and Gold, because by its poisonous Mercurial fume,
affecting the bodies of those who handle it, it is wont to cast them
into dangerous and lasting Diseases. But because they can effect
nothing by such golden solutions, they are forced to supersede their
Use, and to acquiesce in the old usual way.
These few things of my Aurum Potabile, which is the Fourth and
Last Article in my Continuation of Miraculum Mundi, I am constrained
to publish for its defence, that every one may know I have not
attributed too much to it, but that it can perform much more; the
truth of which I am ready to exhibit. Therefore this is a Medicament
most worthy to be presented to Great and Noble Men, as a precious
Gift.
As for the Third Process in the same Work, which is offered to
Physicians and Citizens, that they may by an easie labour obtain
good Medicines for Mankind, and an honest livelihood; it is openly
and clearly described, so that in it not the least thing is hidden or
concealed, I cannot force any to believe or try the matter; I have
enough to do with my own affairs; but if in my Youth I could have
obtained such a Manuduction, as I have hitherto and still do
administer to others, I should not have been forced to the searching
out of Nature with so great charge and labours, heavy stinks, and
great danger of my Life, as I have. I here again assert that which I
have often asserted, viz. That by the fulminating of Salt-Petre with
Tin and Mercury, much Gold and Silver is acquired; which thing I
have often done, and as yet can do it, and do promise that in due
time I will demonstrate it publickly in my Laboratory to Friends. The
other point, in which I have taught how Rich men may augment or
improve their Gold and Silver, much safer than they are wont to do
by putting it to Usury, I have truly and candidly revealed, and have
kept back nothing. NB. But that there are other waies of acquiring
Riches, without great Cost and Labours at the Fire, the troublesome
Exercise of Merchandise, or other things, disturbing or hurting the
mind, I do in no wise deny. For the like things are every where
obvious, in divers place of my Writings, especially in the 2, 3, and 4
parts of The Prosperity of Germany, where mention is made of an
Excellent Work, by means of which an honest livelihood may be
obtained in tranquility, without noise, meltings, and blowings of
Bellows, and that by the help of a certain Water extracting Gold and
Silver from Sand, Earth, Clay, Stones, and Minerals, without great
labour and costs. And although there should not be at hand any
such Earth, Sand, or Stones, which contain Gold and Silver, from
which these cannot be elicited by common melting; (yet there is
hardly any place in the World, where these matters do not occurr)
nevertheless there is no want of Lead and Tin, from which two at all
times, and in all places of the World, Gold and Silver, by the help of
the said Water of Salt-petre may be extracted; which is an excellent
and profitable Art, the which, lest it should die with me, I have
already shewed it to some Friends.
I also here promise, that in my publick Laboratory I will shew and
demonstrate various Secrets. But let no man perswade himself that I
will do this to all men, without descrimination, or admit every
unknown Person to this demonstration, but only those whose Piety
and Candour I my self have long known, or such as shall be
recommended by them, or other known Friends.
Moreover, besides my publick Laboratory, I will also have a private
one, in which shall be shewed to my Friends the more curious and
excellent things which I have mentioned in my Writings.
There shall be shewed rare and hitherto unknown Wonders of
Nature, as Vegetable and Mineral Plants. As for example.
 Vegetables of a Metallick Nature; of which we have
spoken in the Treatise of The Nature of Salts.
Herbs springing up or growing out of hard Flints, yea,
out of pieces of Iron.
Metals in a few hours growing up like Vegetables, by
the help of a certain Water; concerning which, see my
Description of the Liquor of Flints, in The Second Part of
Furnaces.
Metals in a few hours space, like Herbs, without the
addition of any foreign matter, growing up, so that they
lose nothing in the trial of the Cupel.

Also divers manual Operations, and Compendiums not common in

the Destillation of excellent Spirits, profitable both in Alchymy and
Physick, such are Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Salt, Aqua-fortis, Aqua-
regis, and the like, by which they are so easily and swiftly destilled,
that with two or three pound of Coals, by a Body and Head, in Sand,
every hour may be destilled one pound of spirit, and that so pure,
sweet, and clear, that it needs no rectification.
But seeing that this is a thing unheard of, and therefore will be
look’d upon by the common Chymists as a thing incredible, I cannot
forbear here only to point at the way, by which it may appear
possible to be done.
Suppose that I have need of some pounds of spirit of salt, and
want the opportunity of preparing it in a long time, by the force of
fire, I use the following preparation. Instead of a great and continual
fire, I use a separatory Art, severing the pure from the impure,
dissolving common Kitchin-salt, or salt-petre, in common Water, and
adding to the solution put into a Cucurbit a separatory sulphur. The
Cucurbit, with a Head or Retort, (by which also the Destillation may
be made) being set in sand, I kindle a fire, by which the water
containing the salt may boil, and so by the sulphur, in the boiling,
the pure parts are separated from the impure; the purer parts are
rendered very fugacious and sweet clear spirits; the grosser, more
earthy and fixed salt remaineth in the Cucurbit or Retort, of a very
wonderful Nature and Property. And after this manner, from one
pound of salt or salt-petre, may easily be destilled one pound of
spirit of salt, or spirit of Nitre. From a pretty large Cucurbit, in ten
hours, may be made ten pounds of spirit of salt, or spirit of Nitre,
which two spirits being mixed together, make an Aqua-regia. The
quantity of your spirit in each Destillation will be greater or lesser,
according as your Cucurbit is larger or smaller. He that desireth to
make Aqua-regia by the same destillation, must dissolve equal parts
of salt and salt-petre in Water, and destil by a Body or Retort.
This is indeed an excellent Compendium for all those that need a
great quantity of those Spirits. Gold, Silver, as also all the other
Metals, may be dissolved without Aqua-fortis, or Aqua-regis, and the
like spirits, by the help of certain salts dissolved in water, which truly
is also a famous Invention. So also it is with those other rare
Experiments above mentioned; as for example, If a metal ought to
grow in height, something contrary is to be added to it; for this,
while it flieth from its contrary, arising out of the mass, groweth up
as well in the dry as the moist way.
If we would have an hard Metal or Flint bring forth an Herb; the
Metal, whether it be gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, or lead, are first to
be reduced into a tender Powder by salts, and that Powder being put
into an Earthen Vessel, is to be moistened with a certain peculiar
Water, and the seeds of the Herbs to be sowed or set therein, which
after they are grown to perfection, are to be no longer moistened,
but the powder is to be exposed to the Rays of the Sun, which again
becoming a metal or an hard stone, plainly like to another metal or
stone, containeth the inhering Roots of the Herb, and causeth the
Ignorant to admire how an Herb should grow out of a piece of Gold,
Silver, Iron, Copper, or an hard Flint. This is also certain, and not to
be doubted, that the said Herbs so growing out of the Metals, do
obtain the nature and properties of those out of which they arise.
Although these Experiments of Herbs thus growing afford no
profit, yet they are noble Operations of Nature and Art, having more
in them than they promise at the first sight, therefore I have not
here brought them in vain, inasmuch as they are of no small
moment.
But that I may here (at least) mention somewhat of this growing
faculty of Vegetables and Metals, be it known to every one, that in
my publick Laboratory shall be seen the seeds of all sorts of Herbs,
and especially of Grain, as Wheat, Barly, Oats, and others, viz. by
what means they may be so prepared, as to acquire a swift faculty
of growing, and that one grain may produce ten, twenty, or thirty
strong stalks, with full ears, and fruit an hundred fold.
In like manner shall be shewed to some Friends, how Salt-Petre,
as the only promoter and helper of the growing faculty, may be
sowed it self, so that it shall recompence the labour an hundred fold;
for salt-petre multiplieth it self, and groweth up out of common salt,
like other Vegetables; whence that old Proverb of sowing of salt
might perhaps take its Original.
It behoveth that I here make mention of yet another wonderful
thing concerning the growing faculty, to be shewn (God willing) in
my private Laboratory. And it is this, that Gold and Silver do grow,
are encreased and multiplied out of gross Saturn, even as the seeds
of Vegetables, out of a dunged and salt Earth, so that in fifty ounces
there is daily an augmentation of one ounce, if not of two. He that
shall be here a good Husbandman, and skilful in ploughing of
Saturn, and rendering him fertile, and of sowing or planting in him a
fit seed, he will have a plentiful Harvest, answerable to the seed
which he sowed, and will easily gain three or four times as much.
Therefore, because the growing faculty of Vegetables, Animals,
and Minerals, or Metals, taketh its rise from the only and Universal
Salt of the Earth, and this from the Salt of the Sea, and the Sea Salt,
from the Sun, if the Divine Goodness shall grant me Life, I will shew
to my Friends, how by small labour and charge, the Universal Salt
fatness, fit for the rendring all barren and sandy ground fruitful,
instead of Dung, may be copiously separated from Sea Salt. Yea if
need require, I can easily demonstrate, that also the natural Seed of
Gold, the true Universal Medicine may be prepared of the same, or
that it may be acquired from the visible Ocean which is known to
every Man. But seeing that belongs not to this place, we referr the
Reader, desirous of such subtile knowledge, to the Treatise of the
Nature of Salts, where he will find those things which will satisfie his
desire.
These, and the like Experiments shall be shewn in my Laboratory,
among all which, that is the most excellent, by which a Man, without
the incommoding of another, and with great quietness and
Tranquility, may honestly get his Food and Raiment. There shall be
also demonstrated those four Arcanums treated of in the
Continuation of Miraculum Mundi, and many other things treated of
in my Writings, which many believe cannot be effected. That so I, by
giving an occular Demonstration, may vindicate my Writings from
the Injuries and Reproaches of the ignorant, and also leave behind
me somewhat for the good of Posterity.
 A
T R E A T I S E
OF THE

Nature of Salts:
OR, A

Clear Description, declaring by a perfect

Explanation, the Nature, Properties, and use
of such Salts as are commonly known, as
also of a certain other very wonderful Salt,
hitherto unknown to the World; by whose
help all Vegitables, Animals and Minerals,
without diminution of their weight, or
change of their form, may be transmuted
into hard and incombustible Bodies:
WITH
A most firm Demonstration that Salt (after God and the Sun)
is the only Beginning, Original, Propagation and
 Augmentation of all things; from which the greatest
Treasure of the whole World; and the greatest Riches may
be obtained.

T H E P R E F A C E.

T
he manifold and various sorts of food, whether prepared of
Flesh or Fish, if brought to the Table not seasoned with Salt,
are not grateful to the Palate; in as much as they neither
exhibit a pleasant relish, nor conduce to the health of the Body.
Every man will readily assent to the truth of this trite and vulgar
Maxim, if he shall consider with an accurate mind, that among all
the Seasonings and Sauces of food, Salt holdeth the chiefest place,
and that there is no other equal to it, so that among so many, there
is no one to be preferr’d to it.
Therefore what great and excellent Treasures, admirable Virtues,
and most worthy Endowments, in which, by diligent search, and
inquisition the minds of men may be occupied, are contained
therein, I have determined in this present Treatise to enquire into,
and declare; inasmuch as for the space of fifteen or sixteen years, I
have endeavoured nothing more, than that by all my Labours I
might serve the Divine Glory, and the publick good. For by my first
endeavours I published a Work, treating of Philosophical Furnaces in
five parts, and I discovered five Furnaces, adapted to the various
modes of Distillation; I also shewed the way of preparing (by an
artificial manner) excellent Medicines which drive away various and
divers Diseases afflicting the Humane Body, which profitable and
artificial Inventions, no man before me hath revealed.
Next follows my Mineral Work, shewing the Original, and
emendation of Metals and Minerals: To which succeedeth my
Pharmacopœia Spagyrica, in three parts, treating of Vegetables, and
by what means efficacious Medicines may be prepared of them.
 Next after these, was my Work of the Admirable Nature and
Properties of Salt-petre, in which is solidly demonstrated, that that
Miracle of all sorts, is the true Universal Solvent of Philosophers,
which is subservient to the use of all men, high and low, rich and
poor. That little Treatise I have called by the name of Miraculum
Mundi, which I have augmented by an Explication and Continuation,
and fenced it with a defence and Apology, against the wicked Insults
of Envy and Scorn. In all these I have set before the Eyes of this
blind World, the Divine Miracles and Misteries of Nature.
After this, came out another Treatise, under the Title of the
Prosperity of Germany, in four Books, the two latter of which are not
yet Printed, but shall be published in a short time, if God shall
prolong my life, which contain very profitable Precepts of the
Oeconomy and Administration of things familiar.
Then another little piece, called, The Consolation of Sailers;
teaching how they may defend and preserve themselves in all long
Voyages, as to the East-Indies and other parts, against Hunger,
Thirst, and other incommodities of that kind, to which they are wont
to be Obnoxious.
Moreover, A Treatise of Tartar, Vinegar, and Spirit of Wine, shewing
their easie attainment and preparation.
To these I have adjoined, a Treatise of Aurum Potabile, and
another of true Aurum Potabile, or the Universal Medicine, and other
Apologetical Writings, in which I have not only set forth the
perfidious unfaithfulness of men, but have also revealed many
excellent Sciences, that by all these Writings I might illustrate the
Divine Glory, and contribute to the benefit and profit of my
Neighbour, by giving him as it were wholsom and excellent food,
whereby both his Body and mind may be equally refreshed.
And although the said Meats be wholsome, of a good Savour, and
contain their own Salt; nevertheless, it seems to me necessary, to
salt them as it were afresh, and to season them with a certain
Sauce, that they may be tasted with so much the greater appetite
and pleasure. And I have so much the more a mind to do this, as I
more studiously endeavour to observe that precept of the ancient
Doctors, that no Meat should be brought to the Table without Salt.
For it was a received custom in former time in well ordered Families,
to set the Salt first upon the Table before any other Dish, and not to
take it away till all other Dishes were first removed: The which
indicates, that Salt is a most profitable thing, and an highly
necessary gift of God, therefore of right claimeth the precedency of
other Meats in setting upon the Table, and of remaining there, till
they are again removed. But that this most Noble and Divine Gift,
may the better be understood by the ignorant, and may be made
more known than hitherto it hath been, I cannot pass by, but I must
indulge my self, as my time will allow, in a few words, and as it were
by the bye, to shadow out, and depict its great and admirable
efficacy, for the profit of Mankind. But here I shall speak but of few
things, and that very compendiously, the studious of Divine Wonders
may find the rest in the Writings of other pious and diligent Men, if
he hath a desire to know more.
As for the Original of Salt, which is drawn out of the Ocean, as an
Universal Storehouse, Writers are divided into divers parts and
Opinions. Some think that those Salt Fountains, which in many, and
various places of the Earth break forth from their Springs, and by the
help of boiling, yield their Salt, do not take their beginning from the
Ocean, but from a Salt peculiarly generated, and brought forth in
many places of the Terrene Globe, like Metals. And they establish
their Opinion by this Argument; That the Water of those Fountains
much exceedeth, oftentimes, that of the Sea in saltness; and on the
contrary, the Sea Water being brought by long and tedious Passages
through the Earth, necessarily looseth its saltness, and therefore
leaving its Salt, it ought to come forth plainly sweet, or insipid. This
reason, at the first sight, seemeth so agreeable to truth, that one
can hardly think the matter to be otherwise. But most Springs of
sweet Water, in their first rise were Salt, which penetrating the
passages of the Earth, have deposited their Salt in the same, to
nourish the Earth, and that they might come forth sweet for the
daily use of Man. Whence they have given rise to so many, and such
various Rivers, which again return in that Universal Store-house the
Sea, or Ocean, by which incessant and Reciprocal Flux, they are
impregnated with Salt, and Communicate the same to the Earth,
that it may never labour under a want of due nourishment, but may
render Minerals, Stones, Trees, Grass, Beasts, and even Men also,
partakers of the same perpetually, and so may serve as well for the
Sustentation, Propagation, and Conservation of Irrational, as
Rational Animals, the which no man of a sound mind can deny,
except he will also deny the Circulation of the Blood in the Body of
Man, or Microcosm, which is plainly unknown to not a few, and will
say, that the blood in the little Toe, or little Finger, or left Ear, or
other places, doth not arise from the Liver, the Universal Fountain of
Blood, but that it is particularly generated and produced by the Vital
Spirit, in those very parts, which savoureth not a little of Absurdity.
Seeing therefore, that the constant Circulation of the Blood in the
Microcosm, can be in no wise deny’d, why should not also such a
Circulation in the Macrocosm be admitted as true? For as the Blood
of the Human Body arising from the Liver, diffuseth it self through all
the Passages and Veins of the Body, as well small as great, and
Conserveth the life of the whole, nourisheth all the parts, and
augmenteth the good juices, which are changed into Flesh, Bones,
Skin, and Hairs in the Members themselves, and leaving the
unprofitable Phlegm to be expelled by the Pores of the skin: So also
is it with the Nutriment and Universal Aliment of the great World,
while the Salt water without intermission, of the great Sea, or
Ocean, encompassing the whole Globe of the Earth, by many small
and great passages or Veins, passeth through all the parts of the
Earth, and nourisheth and sustaineth them with its Salt, that
Minerals, Metals, Stones, Sand, Clay, Shrubs, Trees, and Grass may
be nourished and grow, and in growing take their encrease. The rest
of the Water being freed from all saltness, is exterminated as a
superfluity in the Superficies, and being diffused into various
Springs, as well small as great, is expelled, no otherwise than the
superfluous sweat of the Blood in the Microcosm, by innumerable
passages and pores. But that in many places of the Earth, the Water
doth not leave its salt, but carrieth it along with it self, that may very
well come to pass for divers reasons. For first, the most excellent
Governour, by His Divine Providence, hath most wisely ordained and
appointed, that a salt water of this kind, which men could in no wise
be without, should break forth out of the Earth, and it is thus
effected: The Sea-water every where passing through the passages
and clefts of the Earth, in some places is dried up by the Central fire,
and coagulated into hard and great pieces, which being digged up
by men, and dissolved by the help of Water, and freed from its
fæces, is boiled up in fit Vessels, and reduced into a pure Salt.
But if it happeneth that other Water passing through those
passages, findeth pieces of Salt of this kind, it dissolveth so much of
the same as it can carry along with it, and afterwards is boiled into
Salt after various manners, according to the greater or lesser
quantity of Salt it hath carried along with it.
But that one Salt Fountain is richer in Salt than another, the cause
of the difference is in the Water, which passing by, doth more or less
associate it self with the Salt, and so is made stronger or weaker.
These few things are sufficient for the refelling of their Opinion,
who assert, that Saline Fountains do not draw their original from the
Sea, but are generated and produced in a peculiar manner in the
Earth, by the help of the Stars.
But if this should seem credible, nevertheless it would seem more
credible, that the Sun and Stars casting their Rays and Influences
into the Ocean or Seas, should there generate Salt, which afterwards
penetrating through the pervious passages of the Earth, should
convey due nourishment to the same.
This reason may also be assigned of the greater or lesser quantity
of Salt in Fountains or Salt-springs, that those passages which
receive salt water from the Sea, differ in scituation of place, and are
also differently disposed or allotted by the sea-water it self, which
being various and manifold (in respect of saltness) differs much in
one place from another.
For by how much the nearer the Sea-water is to the North, it
contains so much the less salt, so that oftentimes it scarcely holds
the tenth or twelfth part of Salt. But the nearer it is to the South or
the East, it is inriched with so much the more salt. For this reason, in
many places of the East and West Indies, the sea aboundeth and
swelleth with so great a force of salt, that when it is stirred up by
the vehement impetuosity of Tempests, it casts out with its surges a
copious spume or frothy scum upon the shore, which being
afterwards dried by the Rays of the Sun, the Inhabitants are wont to
use for the salting of Flesh and Fish. Experience teacheth, that in
places of this sort, four pounds of Sea-water yield one pound of salt,
and the fertility of those Lands also indicates the great quantity of
salt, which without any cultivation or human labour, both Winter and
Summer inrich the Inhabitants with most excellent Fruits. But those
Regions scituated near the Arctick Pole, or North, do not enjoy so
great a fertility, because they want the greater and more penetrating
Beams of the Sun, and do not exhibit so great a quantity of Salt,
which is the cause of all fertility, and therefore those Regions are
denied so large and spontaneous a fruitfulness.
But that Salt which the Unskilful have been accustomed to have in
little or no regard, may be had in greater honour, I neither could or
would any longer pass by its due Name in silence, and therefore I
have called it the greatest Treasure, and most ample Riches of the
World.
Moreover, that I may prove and demonstrate, that this common
abject salt, known to every man, (in which the life, conservation,
growth, and propagation of all the Creatures consisteth, and which is
the beginning and end of all things) doth deserve this title, and that
a greater Treasure is not found in the Earth; it will be necessary to
do this, that I make manifest the infallible Verity of the Mysteries of
G O D and Nature.
 But I desire of the unprejudiced Reader, that he will not be
offended at the vileness of abject and contemptible salt, nor think
that I, in giving this Title to it, and calling it the greatest Treasure
and chiefest Riches of the whole World, have exceeded or given it
too great honour. For so great and honourable a Title doth of right
belong to it, and should as yet be insignized with a greater, if a
greater by me could be attributed. And I easily perswade my self,
that if those who are captivated by the hunger of Gold, shall see this
Book, and read the Title, they will conceive no other thing in their
minds, than the description of the great Universal it self, or the
revelation of great Riches and massy Treasures, which they will hope
to find in this Treatise, never dreaming that poor abject and
contemptible salt should be set before them, and therefore will say,
What is all this noise about a handful of Salt? Who could have
thought that Glauber would have dared to have given such a Title to
Salt? But I earnestly require of thee, my Friend, that thou wouldst
patiently read those things which in this Writing I have put before
thine eyes, concerning Salt, and that thou wouldst accurately
examine them, that thou maist apprehend me to have written the
pure and sincere truth. If they exceed the capacity of thy mind, and
thou hast not hitherto learned or understood the same from the
Books of others, I would have thee to understand that all men have
not knowledge of all things, and that the Omnipotent G O D hath left
many Sciences to Posterity, which he hath hitherto concealed from
the proud and haughty. Read over and over the true Writings of the
ancient Philosophers, that thou maist know, and throughly know,
that those men who have searched the most intimate Penetrals of
Nature, had salt in great estimation, to have industriously concealed
its Mysteries and Arcanums from the ingrateful World, which now in
these last times are brought to light, for thee and all others, to be
received as incomparable Gifts, with a grateful mind.
Therefore Reader bend thine Ears, and open thine Eyes,
overgrown with blindness and darkness, attend to those good things
which I shall discourse to thee of salt; if thou wilt make trial, and will
search them throughly by an accurate examination, whether they
agree with God, Nature and Truth, I doubt not, but thy mind will be
enlightened with a great light, and thou wilt become as a man
renovated; but if with a proud mind thou shalt refuse to learn and
understand those things, or scoff or mock at them, thou shalt be
reckoned amongst the number of Fools, and perpetually abide in the
same, although Aristotle himself, and all the Professors and Doctors
should sit upon thy long Ass-ears, and thou with the same shouldst
endeavour as an Ass with a sack to cover thy foolish Pride and proud
folly. It is much better for a man to know many things, and measure
or estimate himself in his own way or manner, than to know nothing,
and bear himself out with the vain pride of his own ignorance. I
have never seen any man endowed with true knowledge, who hath
preferred himself to others; on the contrary, I have found very many,
who being stirred up by envy, hatred, and inhumane malice, do
nothing sooner or more readily, than insult and make a mockery at
pious men, to whom the Divine Bounty hath granted his Gifts, and
as it were, devour them with their Wolf-like Teeth, which diabolical
wickedness the Divine Justice in its own time will not suffer to
escape unpunished.
Thus much I was willing to say to the proud Caviller; now
therefore attend to those things which I shall speak concerning Salt.
 A
T R E A T I S E
OF THE

Nature of Salts, &c.

I. Of the Nature of S A L T.

T
hat it may be demonstrated in a Compendium, how many good
things, as first the Tranquility of our mind, the chiefest
Temporal Good, the Conservation of our Bodily Health, the
great Riches and Treasures, and other things which are necessary
for humane use, are latent or hidden in the despicable Body of Salt;
in the first place let us hear what our Saviour Christ himself saith,
who is the Truth, the Light, and the Life, in the Gospel of St. Luke,
Chap. 14. Ver. 34. and in Mark, Chap. 9. Ver. 50. Salt (saith he) is a
good thing. And in Luke, Chap. 18. Ver. 19. No man (saith he) is
good, but God alone. But he calleth his Disciples the Salt of the
Earth, and addeth, If the Earth wanteth salt, it is unprofitable,
neither doth it bring forth Fruit. And Dung it self, without Salt, is of
no use. This is as if he should have said, Salt is the most noble thing
of the whole World; and yet amongst Fools the most abject and
contemptible. Be ye like to this, and do the Will of God, and as
Mediators, lead Sinners to G O D, which otherwise cannot be done. I
am your Head, your Master, and go before you; tread ye in my
footsteps, follow me, I am the Way, &c.
But to return to Salt, we will hear the opinion of others concerning
it: There is here no need to cite the Writings of Philosophers at
length, seeing they are at hand, and from them it may be manifest
to every man, that next after G O D, the Sun, and Fire, they have
esteemed it the most Noble Creature, and have given to it Honours
as it were Divine. The Heathens would not sacrifice to their gods
without Fire and Salt. If you read the Old and New Testament, you
shall find that God himself hath commanded to have regard to Salt.
In the Gospel of St. Mark you shall find that all men are to be
seasoned or preserved by Fire, and all sacrifices with salt, and that
the Lamp or Light upon the Altar was never to be put out, but to be
kept in continual Burning. In the Christian Church, this manner is still
observed, that no Infant is baptized, without some Light or Candle
be present, and the Priest sprinkles a little salt upon the mouth of
the Baptized, with these words, Receive the salt or seasoning of
Wisdom; as if he should say, Learn to understand and know God and
be not like the Beast, which hath no understanding. These
Ceremonies are observed in some places at this day. The Greek
Church baptizeth with fire and water, by that Rite indicating the Holy
Ghost to be like to fire, because he warmeth the cold hearts of Men,
enliveneth them, and turneth them to G O D. God Himself calleth
himself a consuming Fire; and the Holy Ghost hath alwaies appeared
in the form of Fire, and shewed Himself to the Disciples of Christ in
fiery Tongues. The Abysini professing the Christian Religion in Africa,
under the most Potent King and Priest Prester John, baptize with
Fire and Water, and make a sign or mark in the Foreheads of the
men which are baptised, by Burning. In short, there is not any man
among the Heathens, Jews, Turks, and Christians, who doth not
highly value Fire and Salt, of which notwithstanding he knoweth no
more than a mad-man, or than a Swine, or an Ox, or other irrational
Beasts, which pass their life without understanding. But these two
Creatures of God, to wit, Fire and Salt, are one and the same in the
foundation of Nature; for Fire produceth Salt, and Salt is again
converted into Fire, and Fire into Salt, so that by a mutual
conversion they are alwaies changed one into the other. Therefore
Hermes the Father of Philosophers faith, That which is above, is as
that which is below, and that which is below, as that which is above;
as you may read in his Smaragdine Table. The Sun or Fire is above,
Salt is below, which is by an easie way rendered combustible, like
the sun or fire; as I have taught in many places of my Writings, and
all Philosophers, with an unanimous consent, do confess, that the
greatest Secret lieth hidden in fire and salt. Hence is the word
Alchymy from fire and salt, which penetrate all things, and Fire is the
Symbol of G O D, who hath alwaies exhibited himself to mortal eyes,
in the form of Fire: But Salt is the Symbol of Eternity, inasmuch as it
defendeth and preserveth all things from Corruption.
There are some who determine the Evangelist John to have
understood Hermetick Philosophy; and there is yet extant an Hymn,
composed and sung by the ancient Fathers, in honour of the same
John, in which occurr these words: Who maketh Gold of Rods or
Twiggs, and Gemms of Stones. Nevertheless I leave those things to
every man’s judgment, and here I only say this, That both Heavenly
and Earthly Mysteries were known to the Prophets and Apostles.
But although I have never taken in hand so great a Philosophick
Work, nevertheless it is so known to me from the Writings of the
Prophets and Apostles, and from the Light of Nature, that by
comparing things Divine and Humane, I could easily subject it to the
Eye, but that power is not allowed me, and therefore I trust that no
man will make an evil Interpretation of what I have said, seeing that
thereby I aim at nothing but the glory of God, and the profit of my
Neighbour.
There is no need for any man to seek many things from the Old
and New Philosophers, seeing that by reading and considering the
Divine Writings of Moses, the Prophets and Apostles, he may obtain
his desire, and may without doubt, in them, find the Stone of
Philosophers described, provided he shall have but a little knowledge
of Nature. I will say no more, but that the infallible Truth occurrs in
those. All these things are to be taken so, that things Divine may be
understood in a Divine sence, and Natural things in an Elementary
sence, without changing or mixing, seeing that they have no
Communion among themselves.
But lest it should seem to any, to be absurd, that St. John the
Evangelist should make Gold of Sticks or Twiggs, and Gemms of
Stones, as the said Hymn teacheth, by an Art indeed great, and to
be admired, I have thought it necessary to open and shew to the
Unskilful by what means that might be done.
In the first place, this was possible to St. John, as he was a man
abundantly gifted with the Holy Spirit, and seasoned with the Salt of
Wisdom, so that he might perform this action supernaturally, as well
as naturally, seeing that he was endowed by the holy Spirit, without
all doubt he had also the natural Light in his possession.
But by which of those powers he effected this, is not for us to
know, nor doth it behove us to know. But because few will believe
that St. John wrought the same by natural means, and many not
believing in Nature and Art, will only say, that it could never be that
Wood should be transmuted into Gold, and Stones into Gemms. And
although the later should be in some sort credible, by reason of the
alliance or likeness between Stones and Gemms, nevertheless the
former, by reason of the great disagreement between Woods and
Metals, inasmuch as they belong to divers Kingdoms, they object,
exceeds all Belief, and other Objections of this sort, may be found
among the Unskilful, by reason of the external species of place. But
such things are wont to move no admiration in Philosophers, much
less any doubt, seeing that they are not ignorant how great
familiarity there is of the Vegetable Kingdom with the Mineral, both
which have their Rise from the same Subjects, viz. Salt and Fire,
which their Anatomy doth clearly demonstrate. And although this
may exceed the Capacity of some, yet it doth not thence follow that
it is not true. If all things were to be spoken truly and openly, I
confess there would be found a very small number of those who
rightly understand Nature, seeing that almost all men who have but
frequented a School for some years, and obtained any thing of Latin,
whether they understand Nature, or are ignorant of her, will be
taken for Philosophers, traduce those Philosophers who are
illuminated by the light of Nature, with strange Cavillings and wicked
Lyes, every where setting forth themselves by their own ignorance.
Therefore it is no wonder that the Secrets of Nature should lie hid,
and by the ignorant and unskilful of this sort be all taken for Fables
and foolish Whimsies, which their Sheeps Brains cannot reach. But
who is able to cure this Evil? Perverse manners are to be left with a
perverse World. But that I may prove and demonstrate that it is not
altogether impossible for Art to transmute Wood into Gold, I will
point out by what means it may be done.
First, Then it is manifest before all things, that all Wood and every
Herb hath its original from a certain sulphureous salt, to which
Metals also owe their Rise and greatly agree in similitude, and by an
intimate agreement in the same name; so that how easily a Mineral
suffereth it self to be changed into a Vegetable, and that again into
a Mineral, I have signified in other places of my Writings. Indeed if
you shall look upon the external difference of any Wood or Herb,
and a Metal, it will indeed appear great; but being reduced to their
first matter, they will not differ in any discrimination; as is
manifested in my Continuation of Miraculum Mundi.
Therefore if the first matter of Vegetables be adjoined to any
metallick seed, this is nourished by that; and again, if a metal be
reduced to its first matter, and any Vegetable seed put to it, that will
be changed into a Vegetable; which Experience hath often shewed
me. But if those two had not a great affinity with each other, they
would not so easily admit of a mutual conversion one into the other;
the seeds indeed differ between themselves, but they agree in the
first matter, which appeareth thus: If a sulphureous salt, not
corrosive, be mixed with sand, and moistened with water, and the
seeds of divers Herbs sowed in it, for every seed doth thence attract
its own nourishment, every one, according to its species, producing
its like, endowed with various colours, smell, and proper taste,
powers, and virtues, all which proceed from one only salt, and are
manifested by the heat of the Sun, and the operation of the internal
Archeus. But to make the matter more clear, it is to be known that
the principals of Vegetables are Water, Salt, and Sulphur, from which
also Metals take their original, and not from running Mercury, as
many think. For that Argent-vive, in its own peculiar nature, is also a
metal arising from the same three principles, from which the other
metals, and all Vegetables draw their original; viz. from Water, Salt,
and Sulphur, which their Anatomy maketh manifest. Here the rout of
Unskilful men will take Counsel to resel this my opinion, inasmuch as
it will seem worthy of credit to few. But the cause of this incredulity
is the rudeness and unskilfulness of men of this sort, who having no
Experience in Natural things, nor in no wise enlightened by the Light
of Nature, are blinder than a Mole.
Those things which hitherto I have so often, and with so many
words inculcated, the same I here repeat and affirm, to wit, That a
Metal may be converted into a Vegetable, and that again into a
Metal, and that no Vegetable is found, from which a natural and
yellow Sulphur, in all things like to the Mineral, may not be prepared;
and this Sulphur prepared of any Vegetable, if it be adjoined to any
fixed metallick Sulphur, it is maturated by the same, into a metal, yet
not without a medium; as I have often indicated in my Writings, and
that medium I have said to be Salt. Therefore whosoever knoweth
how to adjoin any immature sulphur, whether Vegetable or Mineral,
to any ripe Metal, the fixed and constant sulphur of Gold and Silver,
will be nourished and encreased by the Vegetable or Mineral sulphur,
not fixed, and will transmute that into the species and property of
the other, as the Ferment shall be white or red, in like manner as the
seed of any Vegetable doth. So gold and silver may be made of a
sulphureous salt, according to any ones will, which nevertheless
requires a due time, seeing that a transmutation of this sort is
perfected gradually, and by a due heat, as also in the propagation of
Vegetables & Minerals it is wont to be done. From these things it
appears, that this Transmutation is the meer Work of Nature, which
many Experiments which I have made, and yet am able to make, do
evidently demonstrate; therefore there is no reason why such things
should seem so wonderful or absurd to any.
Whether St. John performed the Transmutation of which we have
spoken, by the help of any natural Art, or whether he did the same
by a Divine Power, we will not here dispute; but let it suffice to have
demonstrated that such things may be performed by a natural
reason.
 For when Wood, Bread, or piece of a Bone; or also any Herb shall
be adjoined to its own salt, in due manner of Art, and reduced to its
first matter, that salt transmuteth the Flower, Bread, Wood, or Herb
into a sulphureous salt, which encreaseth the growing faculty of
Vegetables and Minerals. A salt of this sort being mixed with a small
quantity of white Flint reduced to powder, and melted in a strong
Fire, will give a red and pellucid stone or glass, which if it be kept
long in the Fire, it turneth green, and at length black, like a Coal,
and acquireth so great hardness, that it may be cut and polished
after the manner of other precious stones. Here the desirous of Art
may see, that by one and the same way, and in one and the same
time, that Gold may be prepared of Wood, and fair and pellucid
stones, of various colours, of white Flints. But that the Eyes of the
studious of Divine and Natural things, may be the better opened, I
will more clearly expound what the first matter is.
Therefore, as to this first matter, of which we here speak, that of it
Metals no less than Vegetables may be brought forth, it is to be
known how easily it may be prepared by the help of Fire, and of a
certain Salt not corrosive, of Metals, Vegetables, and Animals, and
indeed so swiftly, that in the space of three hours a piece of Bread,
Flesh, or of any Metal, may be transmuted into a sulphureous salt.
The same thing also happeneth in the stomachs of Men and Beasts,
in which the Vegetables and Animals which are eaten, are consumed
in the space of 24 hours, and transmuted into that sulphureous salt
from which they have drawn their Rise. But Metals being too fixed
and compact, those stomachs have no Jurisdiction over them,
inasmuch as they are not able to reduce them to their first matter,
except the same were so reduced before, and so should come into
the stomach, opened by a radical solution, and so are digested and
consumed like Animals and Vegetables. But what need is there of
the help of humane stomachs to perform such things, seeing that
Operations of this sort may be perfected by the help of Fire and Art.
A moist putrefaction without the help of Fire, performeth the same
thing in Vegetables and Animals, in a long Process of time; but in
Metals very difficultly, and not except in a very long time. Neither are
humane Stomachs themselves alike potent, in reducing every
Vegetable to its first matter, inasmuch as they exercise their power
only upon those Vegetables which by a due Preparation are first
rendered fit to be digested and concocted by the stomach, and
reduced to their first matter. For first they are boiled, roasted, or
prepared by some other way, because those things which are
admitted into the Body, contrary to humane Nature, exercise nothing
but venomous Operations. By a like reason Metals and Minerals
refuse to be brought to their first matter in a humane Stomach,
seeing that the stomach cannot suffer them, as being averse to
humane Nature, but ejects them as a certain Venome, not without
great peril of Life. Here I except Gold, which Metal only, being first
rightly prepared, doth not refuse reduction into its first matter in the
stomach of Man; nevertheless Art doth it more easily and readily. He
who knoweth not this Artificial Reduction, must be content with the
Natural, which nevertheless is not desirable, by reason of the toil,
stink, and length of time which it requires. For which reason it is of
less account than the artificial. Some of the ancient Philosophers
have indeed (not without reason) used the Dungs of Animals, by
reason of the incredible Virtues which they possess. But because we
have better and fitter Medicaments at hand, not without reason we
omit those, and leave them to them who labour under the want of
better; which happeneth to Country people, who being remote from
Cities and Medicines, are wont to use Dungs in various Diseases
instead of Medicines. They purge the Bodies of Boys and Girls with
Mouse-dung, Horse-dung, and Goose-dung, being dissolved in Wine
or Beer, and strained through a Linen Cloth, they use in curing the
Falling-sickness by Sweat. In the Cure of an Erysipelas, or Burns, or
Scalds, they use Hoggs-dung; and in all kind of Swellings Sheeps-
dung; in a Quinsey white Doggs-turd, or Humane dung, as also to
other Diseases of the Neck, which the rude and ignorant are wont to
drink against various inward and outward defects of the humane
Body.
I remember once to have seen an admirable Cure done in a
moment by the help of humane dung, in a certain, long, and tedious