In like manner may all _Marcasites_, _Granati_, _Zineta_, _Arsenica_, _Talka_, _Cachymie_, _Bisemuta_, _Antimonies_, &c. (all which carry with them crude Gold, and Silver,) bee so ripened, that they may bee equalized to the most rich veins of Gold, and Silver, only by this Art. So also the Elixir, and tinctures of metals are brought to maturity, and perfected. [Sidenote: What the growing of the beard of a dead man signifies.] Seeing therefore, as it hath been said, moisture, and heat doe ripen all things, and make them grow, Let none wonder, that the beard, haire, or nailes of a malefactor hanging on a Gibbet, or Wheel do for a long time grow, neither let it be accounted for a sign of his innocency, as the ignorant beleeve, for this is naturall, and from naturall causes. For whilest that any moisture remains in him, his beard, haire, and nailes grow, even till the second year, or till hee bee wholly putrefied, &c. [Sidenote: The augmentation of ☉.] Wee must also know, that there are many things that grow for ever, and are increased in bignesse, weight, and vertue, in the Water, and Earth, in which they continue good, and efficacious, as are Metalls, Marcasites, Cachymie, Talka, Granuty, Antimony, Bisemuta, Gemmes, Pearles, Corals, all Stones, and Clay. So also it may be ordered, that Gold may grow, and bee increased in weight, and body, if only it bee buryed in the Earth looking towards the _East_, and bee alwaies soiled with the fresh urine of a man, and pigeons dung. [Sidenote: How Gold may be generated in a glasse.] It is possible also that Gold, through industry, and skill of an expert Alchymist may bee so far exalted, that it may grow in a glasse like a tree, with many wonderfull boughs, and leaves, which indeed is pleasant to behold, and most wonderful. [Sidenote: How the Philosophicall Tree is made.] The processe is this. Let Gold bee calcined with _Aqua Regis_, till it becomes a kind of chalke, which put into a gourd glasse, and poure upon it good new _Aqua Regis_, so that it may cover it foure fingers breadth, then again draw it off, with the third degree of fire, untill no more ascend. The water that is distilled off, poure on againe, then distill it off againe. This doe so long untill thou seest the Gold to rise in the glasse, and grow after the manner of a tree, having many boughes, and leaves: and so there is made of Gold a wonderful, and pleasant shrub, which the Alchymists call their Golden hearb, and the Philosophers Tree. In like manner you may proceed with Silver, and other Metalls, yet so that their calcination bee made after another manner, by another _Aqua fortis_, which I leave to thine experience. If thou art skilled in Alchymie, thou shalt not erre in these things. [Sidenote: To make an artificiall stone of any forme.]